PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Jhodessa Reimer, Division Director of School Based Programs at Center for Family Life
3:17:39
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148 sec
Jhodessa Reimer from the Center for Family Life in Sunset Park testified about their experience with the Summer Rising program, highlighting concerns and suggestions for improvement. She emphasized the need for more flexible programming options and better alignment with diverse student needs.
- Criticized the rigidity of the Summer Rising model, suggesting a full-day summer camp option for students not needing remedial instruction
- Expressed concern about overcrowding, inefficient enrollment processes, and the lack of transparency in educational outcomes data
- Called for inclusion of community organizations as thought partners in evolving the program to better meet the needs of New York City's children
Jhodessa Reimer
3:17:39
Good afternoon.
3:17:40
My name is Jodasa Reimer, and I'm a division director of school based programs from the Center for Family Life in Sunset Park.
3:17:46
Thank you for this opportunity to testify.
3:17:49
Center for Family Life has been operating summer rising programs for 4 years.
3:17:54
In the summer of 2024, we operated 7 summer rising programs in the neighborhood of Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
3:18:01
Organization has been active in giving feedback about the summer rising model.
3:18:05
Our young people have participated in the UN focus groups.
3:18:09
Our parents have called 311, and our agency leaders and program directors have given feedback at the end of every summer.
3:18:16
However, we feel the feedback our community has expressed has largely gone unheeded.
3:18:21
Our testimony covers the following four points.
3:18:24
The limitations of the summarizing model, a request for transparent data and educational outcomes, specifically as it pertains to students identified as needing academic support or classified as promotion in doubt, overcrowding due to collocations, and an inefficient enrollment process that leaves slots empty.
3:18:43
Free summer programming for New York City youth is a critical support for working families and provides a vital opportunity for young people to engage in meaningful activities, develop new skills, and build community.
3:18:54
We are grateful to New York City for recognizing that.
3:18:57
However, the summarizing model is too rigid to meet our diverse student populations needs.
3:19:02
Children who performed are above grade level, but whose parents need free summer childcare required to participate in 16 hours per week of remedial boxed curriculum taught and are experienced over the past 4 years on the ground by less experienced teachers, in many cases, substitutes without education degrees.
3:19:19
Few of whom have prior relationships with the students.
3:19:23
We strongly believe the city should fund a full day summer camp option for those not in need of remedial instruction.
3:19:30
Giving our student giving our children and families, the opportunity to choose the right model for their needs is empowering and aligns with the city's goal of equity for all New Yorkers.
3:19:39
If children from affluent communities can opt into enrichment camps, children from all communities, should have the opportunity to do so.
3:19:46
My colleagues from Center for Family Life already spoke about the other points of our feedback, and we've submitted it the written testimony as well.
3:19:53
We have a solutions oriented mindset and asked to be included as thought partners moving forward.
3:19:58
We believe our lived experience running program on the ground offers valuable insight as to how this program can evolve to meet the diverse needs of our city's children.
3:20:06
Thank you.
