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 at City Council Hearing on Immigrant Students
11.29.2023 | Today, AFC is testifying before the New York City Council Committee on Education and Committee on Immigration to discuss newcomer immigrant students in New York City public schools, and highlight concerns and recommendations based on our work on the ground providing assistance to many newcomer immigrant families in shelter on... Continue reading
AFC Response to the November Financial Plan
11.16.2023 | Today, Kim Sweet, Executive Director of Advocates for Children of New York (AFC), issued the following statement in response to the release of the City’s November Financial Plan: While we are still awaiting details of the cuts proposed today, one thing is already clear: it is simply not possible to reduce New York City Public... Continue reading
AFC Response to the Recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Graduation Measures
11.13.2023 | Today, Kim Sweet, Executive Director of Advocates for Children of New York (AFC), issued the following statement in response to the release of the recommendations of the New York State Blue Ribbon Commission on Graduation Measures: We thank the Board of Regents and the State Education Department (SED) for their commitment to... Continue reading
New Data Show 1 in 9 New York City Students Experienced Homelessness Last Year
11.01.2023 | Data released today by Advocates for Children of New York (AFC) show that 119,320 New York City students—roughly one in nine—experienced homelessness during the 2022–23 school year. While the recent increase in the number of immigrant families arriving in New York City has brought greater public attention to the issue, student... Continue reading
AFC in the News
The New Kids: For one asylum-seeking student, school is 'therapy'
12.06.2023 | NY1 | “For so many families, for so many students, school is the one source of stability when everything else is unstable, unknown, ever-changing,” Jennifer Pringle, project director at Advocates for Children, told NY1. But soon, that, too, may be upended. Mayor Adams has announced plans to limit some family shelter stays to... Continue reading
City Delays Christmas Week Family Shelter Evictions After Outcry
12.06.2023 | The City | “I’m relieved to hear that it’s going to be delayed. The policy itself is very problematic to begin with, so the longer they delay it, the better. It’s going to be a mess,” said Jennifer Pringle, a project director at Advocates for Children of New York, a nonprofit that works with homeless children among other vulnerable... Continue reading
Open | NYC Students Experiencing Homelessness.
11.28.2023 | BronxNet | Kibin Alleyne is joined by Marcia Flores, the Education Partnerships Manager at Advocates For Children of New York, to discuss the alarming numbers of students in NYC who are facing homelessness. Advocates for Children of New York released data indicating that around one in nine New York City students experienced... Continue reading
Many migrant kids at NYC schools are new to English. They're finding creative ways to learn.
11.21.2023 | Gothamist | Diana Aragundi, who works with immigrant students at Advocates for Children of New York, said while some groups are stepping up to support students learning English and creating a patchwork of support, “it doesn't replace the need for more bilingual resources.” “Anything that allows them to feel like kids and to have... Continue reading