News & Research
Rochester Parents Asked to Speak Up: Are Our Children Getting the Education They Deserve?
Rochester, NY—September 14, 2026 – Are Rochester’s children getting the education they deserve?
Parents and caregivers across the city are being asked to answer that question as part of We Demand Better, a community-wide effort focused on listening to families and elevating their voices in conversations about education and the future of Rochester’s children.
Coordinated by EDceptional in collaboration with community partners, the campaign launched with a brief survey asking families about the quality of education their children are receiving, regardless of whether they attend a district, charter, private or parochial school.
The campaign will culminate in the We Demand Better Rally on Monday, October 12, from noon–1:30 p.m. at Parcel 5 in Downtown Rochester. Parents, educators, students, community organizations, business leaders, elected representatives and others will be invited to come together in support of better educational outcomes for Rochester’s children.
“We are beginning by listening,” said Paul Miller, chief academic officer at EDceptional. “Parents know their children and their experiences better than anyone. We want to understand what they believe is working, where more needs to be done and what they want for their children’s future. Those voices need to be part of the conversations that shape educational improvement in Rochester.”
The approximately two-minute survey asks parents and caregivers about their overall satisfaction with their child’s education and whether, to the best of their knowledge, their child is performing at or above grade level in reading, writing and math. It also asks whether they believe Rochester needs to do more to ensure every child receives an excellent education and gives parents an opportunity to identify the one thing they most want Rochester’s leaders to do differently.
“Great education is ultimately about what children are learning and whether we are preparing them for what comes next,” said Sebrone O. Johnson, CEO of EDceptional. “Rochester has educators, families and community organizations working every day to help children succeed. We Demand Better is intended to build on that commitment by asking what more we can do collectively to improve opportunities and outcomes for every child.”
Survey findings will be released publicly before the We Demand Better Rally and will help inform conversations with elected representatives, policymakers, community organizations, businesses and education leaders.
The campaign’s message is simple and child-focused: Every Child. Every School. One Rochester.
“Families should be able to expect that their children are building strong academic and critical-thinking skills, regardless of the school they attend,” Johnson added. “This isn’t about asking families to choose sides. It’s about bringing Rochester together around children, listening to what families have to say and working together to create something better.”
Parents and caregivers can complete the survey here:
About EDceptional
EDceptional is the only charter sector support organization in Rochester, helping charter schools to achieve enrollment goals and academic excellence. Believing that literacy is the foundation of all learning, the organization provides strategic support, professional development, and targeted programming to help every child achieve reading proficiency. Visit www.edceptional.org.
Media Contact: Aimee J. Lewis (585) 414-9838 or aimee.lewis@gmail.com
