New York City’s public schools are held accountable for their students’ educational progress. But what happens when problems at home hold students back, or when young children aren’t coming to school? Could the city create a school-based safety net in the lowest-income neighborhoods? The Center for New York City Affairs released an analysis of absenteeism in the early grades, looking at the role that schools and families play in the academic success of a child—and what is needed to help more children do well.

Introductory remarks: Richard Rothstein, Research Associate, Economic Policy Institute, and author, Class and Schools: Using Social, Economic, and Educational Reform to Close the Black-White Achievement Gap Dennis Walcott, Deputy Mayor for Education and Community Development, City of New York

Panelists: Lilliam Barrios Paoli, Executive Director, SafeSpace Jane Quinn, Assistant Executive Director for Community Schools, Children’s Aid Society Luis Torres, Principal, Bronx P.S. 55

Moderator: Clara Hemphill, Co-founder, InsideSchools.org, and author, New York City’s Best Public Elementary Schools: A Parents’ Guide

Supported by the Child Welfare Fund, the Milano Foundation, the Sirus Fund and the United Way of New York City.