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Parents and CEC members press for more summer, after-school and early-childhood seats; chronic absenteeism flagged
Summary
Community members and council members urged district action to expand Summer Rising and after-school slots, increase 3-K/Pre-K capacity and to clarify enrollment procedures; a council member also cited research indicating high chronic absenteeism rates in NYC.
Multiple council members and public commentators used the meeting to press the district on after-school, Summer Rising and early-childhood seat supply, and to raise chronic absenteeism as a community concern.
Council member Lu Zhao cited statewide research and said, "The New York City have, 1 third of student classified as a chronic absentee," and urged more granular attendance data so families and the council can assess which absences are legitimate and which are driving academic and behavior impacts.
Public commenter and parent advocate Kevin Lee, who identified himself as a District 28 resident and parent, urged improvements to Summer Rising enrollment procedures and called for a stronger recreational and enrichment focus during July and August.
"Universal after school is a necessity and not a luxury," Lee said. He asked the district to improve enrollment so seats are not left unused when families do not take them, and to expand free or low-cost slots for working families.
Earlier during the meeting, principals and district staff discussed intervention and assessment work (iReady data and RTI groups) and noted summer programming is an ongoing planning item. Dr. Hall (district office) told the council the district monitors assessments and that Achievement Instructional Specialists are mining data with principals to direct interventions.
What the district offered: district leadership and guests said they track Summer Rising and after-school allocations centrally and that the DOE and partnering community-based organizations (CBOs) manage placements. The district office representative said a Summer Rising presentation will be scheduled for the council's next meeting to walk parents through the application process and clarify timelines to reduce confusion.
Ending: Council members asked parents to attend the Summer Rising briefing at the next CEC meeting and encouraged families to contact district offices for help; members asked the district to publish clearer data on chronic absenteeism by school and student subgroup so the CEC can better evaluate targeted responses.
