More than 500 parents, educators, and community leaders across New York have called on state education officials to take steps to ensure that all students have access to the critical courses that will prepare them for success in college, careers, and civic life. Join the call to action!

“Ensuring all students have access to the courses that will set them up for success in the future is critical not just from a social justice perspective, but an economic one,” said The Honorable Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes, New York State Assembly, District 141. “New York’s long-term success is dependent on all students leaving high school with the skills they need to thrive in college and the workplace. It is imperative that state education leaders act quickly to ensure that these opportunities are available for all students.”

“We believe that all students deserve every opportunity possible to hone the knowledge and skills that will allow them to be successful in college and the workforce,” said Dr. Luvelle Brown, Superintendent of the Ithaca School District and co-chairman of the New York State Council of School Superintendents Commission on Diversity and Inclusivity. “That’s why the Ithaca schools have committed to expanding access to the rigorous courses that will set our students up for future success, and we look forward to working with state leaders to ensure that all students across New York have these opportunities.”

“We all know that one of the most debilitating problems that Rochester faces is poverty, and when you graduate a young student without the skills to participate in the labor market you are condemning them to repeat the cycle they were born into,” said Adrian Hale, Strategic Initiatives Manager for the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce. “What this 5×25 agenda does is call on our state leaders and other partners to come together and ensure that we create a system that supports our students and gives them the wherewithal and agency to break that cycle.”