School Governor George E. Pataki today announced that Learnfare, which is designed to break the cycle of welfare dependency by encouraging children whose parents receive public assistance to stay in school, has expanded to five additional counties and three more schools in New York City in the new school year. The additional schools mean Learnfare will be required in 140 schools in 43 school districts as the state prepares for statewide implementation in 1999.
Education is essential to breaking the cycle of dependency on public assistance.
We have made personal responsibility an integral part of our welfare reform laws. Everyone wins when parents or guardians get involved in a child's education. Being involved in that child's development is one of the most important roles a parent can play. Under Learnfare, all children of public assistance families in grades one through six are required to attend school with no more than four unexcused absences during an academic quarter. The full amount of the grant reduction is returned to the family if the student has no unexcused absences in the following academic quarter.