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 Proposed 5-Year Capital Plan
12.18.2018 | AFC testified before the New York City Council Committee on Education, Committee on Finance, and Subcommittee on Capital Budget in support of the proposal to include $750 million in the FY 2020-2024 Capital Plan to improve school accessibility. Read our testimony [PDF] Read more
AFC Testifies on Supporting Students in Shelters
12.17.2018 | Today, Advocates for Children testified before the City Council Committee on General Welfare regarding recommendations for supporting students experiencing homelessness. Read our testimony [PDF] Read more
Complaint Filed Against Success Academy Charter Schools and NYC DOE for Failure to Uphold Rights of Students with Disabilities
11.29.2018 | Today, 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 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... Read more
AFC Calls for Busing for Students in Foster Care
11.02.2018 | Today, Advocates for Children, along with more than 30 other organizations, sent a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio calling on him to provide busing for kindergarten through sixth grade students in foster care. For students who have been separated from their families, school has the potential to be an important stabilizing factor in... Read more
AFC in the News
A ‘gut punch’: Parents decry New York’s plan to upend special ed help centers and reduce staff
01.11.2019 | Chalkbeat New York | But with reduced staff and a revised mission, special education advocates are skeptical. They worry changes will actually make it harder for families to find quality advice, potentially leading to gaps in needed therapies or students’ education during crucial developmental years. “More young children are being... Read more
New York DREAM Act poised to pass before end of January
01.10.2019 | Chalkbeat New York | Immigration advocates, who have pushed for New York to pass such a law for years, welcome the bill. “Our students from immigrant families are facing fear and uncertainty in many aspects of their lives,” said Rita Rodriguez-Engberg, director of the Immigrant Students’ Rights Project for Advocates for Children of... Read more
Kids with disabilities will get first shot at accessible schools
12.06.2018 | New York Daily News | Advocates for Children Executive Director Kim Sweet said the new enrollment rule will improve kids’ lives. “This change in policy should make a world of difference for students with physical accessibility needs who have historically found it nearly impossible to make the same use of NYC’s school choice system as... Read more
NYC kids with disabilities shortchanged by Success Academy charters: complaint
11.29.2018 | New York Daily News | The complaint, filed by non-profit Advocates for Children, claims Success officials changed special education placements of students with disabilities against regulations and refused to comply with administrative hearing orders in special education cases. “Students with disabilities do not give up their civil... Read more