Paul Rochford

Cleveland

journalist, civic tool builder and musician | NYC Based Writer. Previously: K-12 Ed Reporter @Signalcleveland. Georgetown '20. The New School '25.

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Articles

Rally for Immigrant Students: An Advocate's Speech

Jun 12, 2024 | insideschools.org | Paul Rochford

Mamadou Aliou Labe Diallo (second from the left) joins InsideSchools staff and family at the Rally for Immigrant Students. On June 6, 2024, InsideSchools joined the Rally for Immigrant Students, organized by the New York Immigration Coalition, to advocate for more resources and schools for immigrant students.
Older migrant youth face steep challenges enrolling in NYC schools

May 30, 2024 | insideschools.org | Paul Rochford |Lydie Raschka

When 17-year-old Amadou* arrived in New York City in March, his first priority was to enroll in high school. With his eyes on a career in business and dreams of starting his own company someday, he wanted to get on track with others his age as fast as possible. But when it came to getting enrolled in a public high school as an older teen from Senegal without any official school records, he found himself hitting dead end after dead end.
InsideSchools Listens: Migrant Parents Tell Us What They Need Most - InsideSchools

Mar 20, 2024 | insideschools.org | Paul Rochford

“What’s a MySchools account?” “How can I speak with my child’s teacher who doesn’t speak any Spanish? “Do my kids get a school bus?”“I used to be a mechanic in my home country, how can I get a job doing that here?”“Will it snow this year?”These were some of the questions asylum-seeking families posed to InsideSchools during workshops held this fall at New York City’s Department of Homeless Services (DHS) shelters in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens.
Embracing Newcomers: Lessons from InsideSchools & Allies

Jan 18, 2024 | insideschools.org | Paul Rochford

The beginning of this school year saw numerous media reports on public schools struggling to enroll and accommodate nearly 30,000 school-aged children who have arrived in New York City since April 2022. Fortunately, a group of schools and organizations are already doing this work and offer an inclusive and equitable model for welcoming newcomers in the classroom.
I have a felony conviction. Can I vote in Ohio?

Oct 16, 2023 | signalcleveland.org | Paul Rochford

In Ohio, having a felony conviction does not prevent a person from voting in a state or local election. However, if you were incarcerated, any previous voter registration was likely canceled and you’ll have to register again. Need an ID to vote? You can get a free identification card at any Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles location. This resource was created in partnership with women at the Jordan Community Resource Center.
Most CMSD students go to a school outside of their ZIP code

Aug 22, 2023 | signalcleveland.org | Cid Standifer |Paul Rochford

A decade ago, Cleveland Metropolitan School District students were automatically enrolled in their neighborhood school. Now, the more than 35,000 students in the district get to pick the school they want to attend. Often, it’s not as close to home. About two-thirds of CMSD students attended a school in a different ZIP code from where they lived, according to district data that reflected enrollment for a single day in November of 2022.
Cleveland parents embrace school choice (Podcast)

Aug 21, 2023 | signalcleveland.org | Paul Rochford

Most Cleveland Metropolitan School District students attend a school outside of their neighborhood. About two-thirds of CMSD students attended a school in a different ZIP code from where they lived, according to district data that reflected enrollment for a single day in November of 2022. Families pick those schools, and have for about a decade now. Many appreciated the option to choose the school that was the best fit. But barriers remained for some.
Cleveland school choice through the decades (Timeline)

Aug 20, 2023 | signalcleveland.org | Paul Rochford

In the past, Cleveland students were automatically enrolled in their neighborhood school. During the era of desegregation busing, many white families left the public school district for private schools or fled the city for the suburbs. In the 1990s, more Cleveland students left the district to attend private and charter schools using public funds. For the 35,000 students left in the district, picking a school has changed. Now, students and their caregivers select a school using an online portal.
Choosing a Cleveland School (Explainer)

Aug 20, 2023 | signalcleveland.org | Paul Rochford

For a decade, Cleveland has been an open enrollment school district. Parents, caregivers and students can choose which school they want to attend within the district. CMSD uses an online portal where families select their top choices for elementary or high schools. The process is the same whether a student is enrolling in the district for the first time or changing schools.
"Dream Town" details Shaker Heights' path towards racial equity

Aug 18, 2023 | signalcleveland.org | Paul Rochford

When Ted and Beverly Mason first stepped onto their newly acquired lot on Ashwood Road in 1955, they were one of the first Black families to build a home in the entirely white Shaker Heights School District. It was a move that required great courage, given the neighborhood’s response to previous attempts to live there by even the wealthiest of Black families.