On the recordJuly 11, 2019
My district in Rochester, New York, has the second-highest rate of childhood poverty in America. Children in poverty face overwhelming barriers to academic success because it is impossible for them to learn when they are hungry or suffering from family trauma. These barriers are exacerbated in the summer when children lose access to educational opportunities, causing them to fall further and further behind academically. Low-income children lose 2 or more months of reading achievement every summer. By the fifth grade, children without summer learning opportunities are 2 years behind their peers. Students need a safe, stable place to learn over the summer. That is why I am so proud to have introduced legislation to help close the achievement gap and reduce food insecurity. The Summer Meals and Learning Act will help fund summer reading programs at schools that already serve as summer meal sites, providing the support and stability at-risk youth need to grow and thrive. Every child deserves the opportunity to achieve their goals. It is my hope that this legislation will help students stay on the path to success. ____________________
