EDceptional

09/22/2026

What if we stopped talking about schools and started talking about children?

Not district versus charter. Not one school versus another.

Are Rochester children learning? Are they prepared for what comes next? And what do the people who know them best—their parents and caregivers—think needs to change?

That’s what We Demand Better is asking.

Take or share the 2-minute survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc-7gmMzbQxF4SqsDf45kJHH5nv3RJt_5FnEQ5fsxdFIw4smw/viewform

Join us for the We Demand Better Rally on October 12 at Parcel 5 Every Child. Every School. One Rochester.

09/17/2026

Are Rochester’s children getting the education they deserve?

That question is at the heart of We Demand Better, a community-wide effort to elevate parent voices and bring Rochester together around better educational opportunities and outcomes for every child.

We’re starting by asking parents and caregivers across Rochester to share their experiences through a brief survey.

Then join us October 12 at Parcel 5 as families, educators, business and community leaders, and others come together to support Rochester’s children.

Every Child. Every School. One Rochester.

Take or share the survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc-7gmMzbQxF4SqsDf45kJHH5nv3RJt_5FnEQ5fsxdFIw4smw/viewform

09/14/2026

Every Rochester family should be able to expect that their child is learning, progressing and being prepared for what comes next.

But are they?

We Demand Better is asking Rochester parents and caregivers to tell us what they’re seeing—and what they believe needs to change.

Take or share the survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc-7gmMzbQxF4SqsDf45kJHH5nv3RJt_5FnEQ5fsxdFIw4smw/viewform

Then join us October 12 at Parcel 5 as families, educators, business and community leaders, and others come together to support Rochester’s children.

08/28/2026

Together we can accomplish so much more!

Read why READY4Schools is investing in GoodSchoolsRoc, which makes school choice accessible through an online application for all 27 Rochester charter school locations.

Read the full article at: https://rochesterbeacon.com/2026/08/26/why-ready-has-invested-in-goodschoolsroc/

Today, our Chief Executive Officer, Shanai Lee, MBA, Ed.D., was published in the Rochester Beacon. In her guest opinion, she explains why READY invested in EDceptional GoodSchoolsRoc and how strengthening educational infrastructure creates more opportunities for Rochester’s children.

READY’s $150,000 investment will cover one year of access to GoodSchoolsRoc’s application, lottery, and enrollment platform for participating charter schools. This support will help families navigate their school options while allowing schools to direct more resources toward students, educators, and classrooms.

At READY, we believe every family deserves clear pathways to quality public schools and every child deserves the opportunity to thrive. This investment reflects the commitment to removing barriers and strengthening Rochester’s entire public education ecosystem.

Read the full article by heading to: https://rochesterbeacon.com/2026/08/26/why-ready-has-invested-in-goodschoolsroc

08/11/2026

Rochester charter schools have openings for the fall. If you know of someone looking for a good public school, please share GoodSchoolsRoc.org. Every week, the Goodschoolsroc program posts grade level openings at schools, helping parents avoid long waiting lists.

GoodSchoolsRoc has everything you need to choose the right charter school in the Rochester, NY area for your child! School Choice is Your Choice, Apply Today! Apply for the 2026-27 School Year.

07/24/2026

Congratulations to three Rochester charter school graduates who have been awarded $2,000 Hickman Fund scholarships to support their college journeys this fall.

Congratulations to:
• Jean Pierre Felix (Vertus High School) – SUNY Brockport
• Victor Saunders (University Prep Charter School for Young Men) – Clark Atlanta University
• Abigael Moreau (Rochester Academy Charter School) – Temple University

Administered by the Rochester Area Community Foundation, the Hickman Fund honors EDceptional co-founder Bryan Hickman's longstanding commitment to expanding educational opportunities for Rochester students.

We're proud to celebrate these graduates and wish them continued success as they begin this exciting next chapter!