Empowered Parents

The lack of funding for the East Ramapo School District in Rockland County has triggered a significant deterioration in facilities and the quality of primary and secondary education, reflecting a deep crisis within its educational system. Amid this emergency, community parents, with no resources or support, took the initiative to form the Empowered Parents Organization (OPE) to channel their concerns and seek solutions in an increasingly discouraging scenario.

Empowered Parents is a collective campaign designed to advocate for the rights and needs of children attending East Ramapo public schools. Dilcia Suazo, co-founder and director of Proyecto Faro, which houses the OPE collective, highlights that the community has experienced rapid demographic growth, with many families not speaking English as their first language:

“Many children are new arrivals to the country or come from Spanish-speaking homes, which is why they need specialized programs to learn English and develop properly within the community. It has been a challenge for the entire Rockland community attending the East Ramapo School District because we lack the funds necessary to provide adequate programs. And our community has been negatively impacted.”

This deficiency severely affects Spanish-speaking students and their families, who watch with despair as their children’s education crumbles.

Mery Mora, a mother and leader of Empowered Parents, shares her concerns about the unfair distribution of resources:

“There is a severe crisis in the Ramapo school district due to the budget cuts made and planned for this year. This prevents us from addressing the district’s deficiencies, such as improving facilities, infrastructure, and transportation.” With a public school student population of over 11,000 children, most of whom are Latino, the East Ramapo district receives only a fraction of public funds, the majority of which are allocated to private schools attended by a predominantly white community.

The inequality in numbers

Betty A. Rosa, Commissioner of Education and President of the University of the State of New York (USNY), emphasized in her Interim Order report this year the demographic and economic inequality in the district’s school sector: 98% of the white student population of 30,000 attends private schools, while 93% of students of color attend public schools. Of these public school students, 84% experience economic challenges, and 54% are learning English as a new language, the majority of whom are Hispanic—a figure expected to continue increasing.

Mora highlights the inequality in access to basic services such as transportation, the inefficiency of English classes, and school facilities, creating an alarming gap in educational quality:

“A large portion of the money the district receives is allocated only to private schools where the majority is the white community, with about 40,000 children, while the East Ramapo district has 11,000. For example, we share buses with them, which leaves us with an unfair imbalance.”

Through meetings and protests, parents have worked to bring visibility to this situation, organizing to testify before the Chancellor of the New York State Board of Regents, Dr. Lester Young, demanding urgent changes.

According to a report by the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), reducing the minimum distance between school and residence to under two miles benefits private sector students, who can even receive transportation from outside the county for specialized education. In contrast, public sector students are denied this service due to a lack of funds, causing a 41% chronic absenteeism rate in public schools between 2020-2021, according to state statistics.

The poor quality of English classes also affects students’ performance. Commissioner Rosa reported that only 6% of English learners achieve the necessary scores on the state English proficiency exam. Furthermore, the condition of public school infrastructure is deplorable. A 2023 study shows that none of the district’s 14 buildings met state regulations, with lead levels in the water exceeding New York State’s maximum allowable limits. Rosa estimates that infrastructure repair costs total $236 million.

The frustration is not limited to parents. Children themselves are aware of the situation. Mora becomes emotional as she shares: “It’s very sad to see how even my daughter worries about these adult issues. Yesterday she said to me, ‘Mommy, remember to tell them loud and clear, there aren’t enough bathrooms! Tell the board that, loud and clear.’ These things make me very sad as a mother.” This personal experience reflects the widespread sentiment among parents who find it unacceptable that, in a country striving for better opportunities, their children face such precarious conditions.

Some successes

Despite the challenges, OPE has achieved some important milestones. According to Suazo, the organization has empowered parents by teaching them their rights and how to assert them, generating a movement that has caught the attention of legislators. Collaboration with organizations like the NYCLU has facilitated the filing of an appeal with the State Commissioner of Education, demanding that the district fulfill its obligations. However, these achievements are only a step toward a broader solution requiring long-term legislative reforms and firm commitment from state leaders.

Nelcy García, president of the OPE board of directors, underscores the importance of community participation in this fight. Petitions have been organized, directed at the state government, urging the approval of Bill A.10407, which could ease the district’s financial crisis, and for a new budget with a 5.41% increase to cover infrastructure repair costs.

OPE has demonstrated the power of a community to defend its rights and bring about change, showcasing the impact of collective action and inspiring others to safeguard their rights and those of their community. Empowered Parents are currently circulating a petition to the Governor of New York State. More information about the petition can be found at the following link: action.aclu.org/send-message/support-east-ramapo-public-schools-too-late.