Advocates for Children of New York works on behalf of children who are at greatest risk for school-based discrimination and/or academic failure due to poverty, disability, race, ethnicity, immigrant or English Language Learner status, sexual orientation, gender identity, homelessness, or involvement in the foster care or juvenile justice systems.
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Spotlight
AFC Testifies on the New York City FY 2021 Executive Budget
05.21.2020 | Today, AFC is testifying before the New York City Council Committee on Finance about the importance of rejecting proposed cuts to schools and investing in education initiatives that will help students get needed support when they return to school, including funding for preschool special education classes, direct mental health... Continue reading
Resolution Agreement Confirms Right to Translation and Interpretation for Parents of Students with Disabilities in NYC Schools
05.19.2020 | In response to a complaint filed by Advocates for Children of New York (AFC) and New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI), the United States Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights (OCR) and the New York City Department of Education (NYC DOE) have entered into a voluntary resolution agreement to ensure the provision... Continue reading
AFC Responds to Mayor de Blasio’s Announcement about Pre-K Offers
05.13.2020 | Today, Kim Sweet, Executive Director of Advocates for Children of New York (AFC), issued the following statement in response to Mayor de Blasio’s announcement about offers to New York City Pre-K programs:While we are pleased that a record number of families received an offer to their first choice Pre-K program and that there are Pre-K... Continue reading
Over 100 Organizations Call on New York State to Allow All 12th Graders Who Age Out in 2020 to Return to School Next Year
05.11.2020 | Today, more than 100 education and advocacy organizations and over five dozen parents and educators from across New York State sent a letter to the New York State Board of Regents and the State Education Department, urging them to give students who are aging out of school this year the opportunity to return to high school for the 2020... Continue reading
AFC in the News
In a jump, 18% of NYC students will need summer school to be ready for the fall, officials say
05.19.2020 | Chalkbeat NY | “As the DOE prepares for remote summer school, it must redouble its engagement efforts, providing individualized support to address the barriers to remote learning that led to the need for summer school for many students in the first place,” said Randi Levine, the policy director at Advocates for Children. Read... Continue reading
39,000 NYC students with disabilities attend school year-round. Their parents are bracing for the summer.
05.15.2020 | Chalkbeat NY | “For these families, these last few weeks have been exponentially more difficult,” said Maggie Moroff, a disability policy expert at Advocates for Children. “The parents are being parent, teacher, service provider, healthcare worker to their children right now at the same time they’re trying to do their jobs or... Continue reading
Older High School Students Fear State Budget Cuts Will Kill Their Shot At Diplomas
05.14.2020 | Gothamist | “In light of the unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic, the state needs to extend the age of eligibility and ensure schools have sufficient resources to give this relatively small but exceptional group of young people the last chance they need to earn a high school diploma,” said Ashley Grant, Coalition for... Continue reading
Suspensions plummet 20% in NYC schools during the first half of the school year
05.14.2020 | Chalkbeat NY | Despite the downward trends, the city should continue reducing suspensions and expanding restorative justice and mental health programs, said Dawn Yuster, who directs a program on student justice issues at Advocates for Children.“While the downward trend in suspensions and EMS transports of students who have emotional... Continue reading