Who We Serve

Students Facing Disciplinary Issues

Advocates for Children of New York (AFC) has 40 years of experience assisting students who are being removed from school for disciplinary reasons. When a student is facing a school suspension or expulsion, AFC works to ensure the student’s rights are not violated. We work with the family to resolve the situation positively, help them understand their options, provide assistance with mediation and free legal representation at school hearings, and ensure the student receives alternative instruction during the period of suspension.  We also advocate for positive alternatives, such as using behavior modification techniques rather than having the student removed from school for an extended period of time.

Success Stories

• Steven received a 90-day superintendent’s suspension notice that violated his rights and would eliminate his chances of attending a top high school. Click here to read Steven’s story.

• To read additional success stories, click on the link.
  
  
  

Guides & Resources

• Guide to School Suspensions
  This guide explains when a student can be suspended, what happens at a superintendent's suspension hearing, and the student's rights throughout the process. 
• Guide to the Rights of Children with Behavioral Needs
  This guide provides information about the best ways to help students who are experiencing behavioral issues at school.
• Functional Behavior Assessment Guide
  This fact sheet provides information about your child’s rights, with a focus on special education, and the responsibility of the school to develop plans that address the student’s behavioral needs.
• NYC School Discipline Policy in a Nutshell
  NYC school discipline policy (Chancellor’s Regulation A-443) in a nutshell provides information on intervention and preventive techniques, protection for students with disabilities, and teacher removal of students from classroom.  This document is also available in Spanish.

Policy Work

AFC is a co-founder and steering committee member of The Dignity in Schools Campaign-New York (DSC-NY), a coalition of students, parents, advocates and educators calling for positive, school-wide approaches to discipline that improve school climate and increase learning. DSC-NY works to reduce suspensions and school-based arrests, implement positive alternatives to protect students’ human rights to education and dignity, and improve school climate for all students. Our goal is to create safe and supportive school climates in all New York City public schools without the need for school police or metal detectors, where young people are not suspended and removed from class, and where teachers and students have training and support to prevent and resolve conflicts in positive ways.

AFC also plays a leadership role in the School-Justice Partnership Taskforce, chaired by the former Chief Judge of New York State, Judith Kaye.  AFC worked with Judge Kaye and the New York State Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children to launch the Task Force and continues to help coordinate the project.  The Task Force brings together key stakeholders and experts from a variety of disciplines to coordinate efforts and develop recommendations to promote school engagement and reduce the flow of New York City students entering the juvenile and criminal justice systems.

Litigation

Advocates for Children of New York (AFC) filed a complaint with the New York State Education Department against the NYC Department of Education (DOE) for its failure to provide students with disabilities necessary behavioral supports as mandated by law. Providing these supports has been shown to decrease behaviors that often result in removing students from the classroom and/or suspending students. Read the complaint here: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5. Read the press release.