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Litigation

Litigation Filed on Behalf of AFC

Litigation Filed on Behalf of AFC

Complaint Filed Against Zeta Charter School and NYC DOE for Removal of Students with Disabilities From In-Person Learning

On November 5, 2021, Advocates for Children of New York filed a complaint with the US Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) against the NYC DOE and Zeta Charter School for Zeta’s removal of students from in-person to remote learning based on students’ disabilities.  The complaint describes how Zeta removed students from in-person classes based on behavior that Zeta claimed was “COVID Unsafe.”  These behaviors were manifestations of the students’ disabilities, but based on Zeta’s labeling of the behavior as COVID Unsafe, Zeta did not conduct a hearing, and neither Zeta nor the NYC DOE held a manifestation determination review (MDR).  The complaint alleges that the removals from in-person learning discriminated against students based on their disability in violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as the IDEA and due process. 

Associated Documents

Complaint [PDF]

Complaint Filed Against Success Academy Charter Schools and NYC DOE for Failure to Uphold Rights of Students with Disabilities

On November 29, 2018, Advocates for Children of New York along with co-counsel Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP filed a complaint with the New York State Education Department (NYSED) against Success Academy Charter Schools and the New York City Department of Education (DOE) for failing to comply with civil rights laws protecting students with disabilities who attend Success Academy schools. The complaint alleged that Success Academy changed the placements of students with disabilities without following procedures required to protect the rights of students with disabilities and their parents and refused to comply with administrative hearing orders in special education cases.

In February 2019, NYSED issued a decision sustaining each allegation and requiring Success Academy and the DOE to take corrective action to remedy these violations.

Associated Documents

Complaint [PDF]

NYSED's Decision [PDF

November 2018 news release [PDF]

February 2019 news release [PDF]

Complaint Filed before the New York State Education Department by Advocates for Children of New York against the New York City Department of Education

In April 2013, Advocates for Children of New York filed a complaint with the New York State Education Department (NYSED) against the NYC Department of Education (DOE), charging the DOE of systemically violating the law by failing to provide crucial behavioral supports for students with disabilities.  Providing these supports has been shown to decrease behaviors that often result in removing students from the classroom and/or suspending students.

NYSED issued a ruling on the complaint in November 2013. The NYSED decision affirmed AFC’s claim that the NYC DOE must address students’ behavior using Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs) as mandated by law. 

Associated Documents

Complaint [PDF]

NYSED's Decision [PDF]

Fact Sheet: Positive Interventions for Students with Disabilities [PDF]

Advocates for Children of New York, Inc. v. The New York City Department of Education

AFC and the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund filed a lawsuit in Supreme Court, New York County against the NYC Department of Education, seeking an order compelling the Department of Education to release certain records as required by the New York State Freedom of Information Law and the Department of Education Chancellor’s Regulation D-110.  In addition to seeking the production of documents under outstanding Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests, the lawsuit alleges a pattern or practice of illegal conduct on the part of the Department of Education in failing to comply with open access laws that require government agencies to make records available to the public.

Associated Documents:

Petition [PDF]

Memorandum of Law [PDF]