Youth ROC—Semester Update

It’s been a busy semester for Youth ROC. Visit the Photo Gallery and see for yourself!

Youth ROC school club members at Germantown High School.

The program which began in September of 2004 with 15 students from three schools in two districts has grown to an organizing team of over 51 students from nine schools in six districts, with dozens more involved in their school clubs.

Over the course of the last semester the Youth ROC organizing team has accomplished a great deal in the fight for school funding reform. The three main goals for the semester were to raise peer awareness of school funding issues; design and administer the “What’s Going Down in Our Schools” student survey; and to build a school club in members’ high schools.

“I am thrilled to say that not only was each one of our initial goals met, but our organizing team members exceeded them. When we started in September we couldn’t have imagined the commitment and enthusiasm our students have shown,” said Alexis Anderson-Reed, co-director of the Youth ROC program.

Youth ROC represents the interests of youth to parents, teachers, administrators, and politicians. Last semester, members of the organizing team represented youth as panelists at several events throughout the state, were featured in the Niagara Journal newspaper, and were interviewed on radio 1290-AM in Milwaukee.

Organizing Team member Alycia Kender represents youth at the WAES Suburban Forum.

At the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools (WAES) suburban school forum in December, Germantown High School senior and Youth ROC organizing team member Alycia Kender discussed how budget cuts were impacting her school and friends.

“Everyone keeps saying we’re in a bad financial climate to increase funding for public schools, but I have to ask, if not now when? We’ve been cutting our budgets every year. This is my only senior year. I should have more opportunities than I did freshman year, not fewer,” said Alycia.

Organizing team members were also responsible for designing and implementing the “What’s Going Down in Our Schools” student survey. Team members have collected over 1,100 surveys from schools in Milwaukee, Shorewood, Germantown, and Niagara. The students are now in the process of analyzing the results of the survey and writing reports on their findings. The reports along with student recommendations for how to improve the quality of their education will be available March 18.

The organizing team also set out to build a school club in each Youth ROC high school. As of February, every school had a school club and each club held its first meeting.

For more information on Youth ROC organizing team activities or to start a Youth ROC club at your school, please contact Jennifer Epps at 414-384-9094.

Request a Youth ROC school funding presentation

Download a Youth ROC brochure!

Back to Recent Events