The READY Report

April 2026

Our Votes Can Shape What Comes Next

Dear Partners and Supporters,

Research from the Hoover Institution’s Unheard Voices project confirms what our community has long said—families and community members care deeply and want to engage.

What’s been missing is access, transparency, and power.

At READY, we believe informed communities drive better outcomes for kids—and that includes showing up at the ballot box.

Last year, we launched our first School Board Candidate Questionnaire to help families understand where candidates stood on public education.

This year, we’re building on that momentum.

We’ve launched the 2026 READY Candidate Questionnaires, Federal Legislators (U.S. House) and State Legislators (Senate & Assembly), expanding to state and federal races—because decisions made in Albany and Washington, DC directly impact our classrooms.

Our goal is to ensure Rochesterians have clear, transparent, voter-focused information about where candidates stand on K–12 education.

We’ve asked candidates to:

Share their positions on public education
Outline how they will support access to high-quality schools
Demonstrate their commitment to Rochester’s children and families

Candidate responses will be featured in upcoming READY newsletters and across our social media platforms—so you can stay informed and show up with confidence on Election Day.

🗓️ Deadline for candidates to submit responses: Friday, April 24, 2026

At READY, we don’t just expand access to high-performing schools—we equip communities with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to demand school options and make their voices heard in shaping our school systems.

And that starts with access to information and a commitment to civic action.

Yours in service,

Shanai Lee, MBA, EdD

Founder and Executive Director

READY, Inc.

The Stakes — and the Opportunity

Today, 30 of 39 RCSD schools are among the lowest-performing in New York State, impacting nearly 16,000 students—about 80% of our children.

This isn’t just an education issue—it’s a community, economic, and workforce issue.

What READY Is Doing

At READY, we believe families shouldn’t have to wait—they deserve access to quality schools now. We are:

Expanding access to high-performing schools
Building the educator pipeline through the READY Teaching Academy
Equipping families with information through the READY School Finder

Why It Matters

Access to better schools leads to:

Higher student achievement
More informed and empowered families
A stronger, more prepared workforce

You can’t demand change from a system until you understand how it works. Check out our most recent READY Rundown, where we shine a light on the critical role Rochesterians play in driving change and improving our schools—because informed communities are powerful communities.

From Learning to Leading: Introducing the POWER Lab

At READY, we’ve seen what’s possible when caretakers and communities are equipped with the right tools, knowledge, and community.

Through our Parent ACTION Academy—now in its fourth cohort— parents and caregivers build a strong foundation: understanding how schools work, asking the right questions, and becoming informed advocates for Rochester’s children.

But for some, learning isn’t enough. This summer, we’re launching our inaugural cohort of the POWER Lab—a next-level leadership experience for parents, educators, and community stakeholders who are ready to move from advocacy to action.

From June through November 2026, we will launch our inaugural cohort of leaders who will work together to build the skills, strategy, and collective power needed to drive meaningful change across Rochester.

Participants will:

Identify and define issues impacting their communities
Build and grow networks of families and allies
Develop and lead advocacy campaigns
Use storytelling to influence and mobilize
Take action through real-time organizing efforts

Through biweekly hybrid sessions and hands-on practice, this cohort will not just learn about systems—they will work together to change them.

👉 Interested in organizing for change? Register to learn more!

READY Reading Room: Fueling Dialogues in Education!

Spring is here—a season of growth, renewal, and new possibilities for Rochester’s students and schools. Below are some articles and reports that have caught the attention of the READY team:

Stay Connected: Follow READY on Social Media!

Stay connected to the bold ideas and real-time progress reshaping education in Rochester. Follow READY on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube to stay up-to-date on our latest work, hear powerful stories from the field, and learn how you can help create more quality school options for Rochester’s students.

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