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
New Data Reveal Dire Educational Outcomes for Students in Foster Care
01.25.2023 | January 25, 2023 (New York, NY) — Each year, roughly 7,500 New York City students spend time in foster care. This group has historically been overlooked in school reform efforts, despite having some of the most complex educational needs and bleakest academic outcomes of any student population. Today, Advocates for Children of New... Continue reading
Sustaining Progress for NYC Students: A Call to Action for Policy Makers
01.19.2023 | Today, Advocates for Children of New York (AFC) released Sustaining Progress for NYC Students: A Call to Action for Policy Makers, highlighting the need for sustained investments to support education initiatives funded with one-time federal COVID-19 stimulus dollars after that funding expires.Over the last two years, the New York City... Continue reading
New Tip Sheet: FAQ for Families of Students with Behavioral, Emotional, or Mental Health Challenges at School
01.19.2023 | Our newest tip sheet covers how to know whether your child needs behavior supports in the classroom; who to contact if your child is having behavioral, emotional, or mental health challenges at school; your rights as a parent of a student with a disability; and what your child's school is NOT allowed to do, along with resources to... Continue reading
AFC Responds to Release of City’s FY 24 Preliminary Budget
01.12.2023 | 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 Fiscal Year 2024 preliminary budget: We are relieved that the City is not moving forward with certain planned cuts to school budgets next year at a time when students still need... Continue reading
AFC in the News
New Report Highlights Ongoing Challenges for NYC Students in Foster Care
01.26.2023 | The Imprint | To address the many challenges foster youth are currently facing in the public school system, Advocates for Children listed numerous recommendations for the city’s new foster care division within the education department. Recommendations include training school staff on the needs and legal rights of foster youth,... Continue reading
NYC public schools fail children in foster care: report
01.25.2023 | NY Daily News | One in five kids who spend any time in foster care during high school drop out, the report found. “Youth in the foster system have enormous potential that too often goes unrealized because the systems charged with their care and education have failed to meet their needs,” said Erika Palmer, a supervising attorney... Continue reading
Half of NYC students in foster care were chronically absent: report
01.25.2023 | Politico (Pro) | About 7,500 New York City students spend time in foster care each year, according to the nonprofit. Erika Palmer, supervising attorney at AFC, praised the Department of Education for recently hiring a small team of staffers focused on supporting students in foster care, but also expressed concerns about the... Continue reading
Advocates for Children report: Foster kids struggling in NYC education system
01.25.2023 | News 12 Bronx | The report published by the nonprofit Advocates for Children noted foster care students were twice as likely to get failing scores on state exams and between 80-85% were not proficient in math and reading. It also says only 40% of foster care students who are enrolled in high school go on to graduate. "... Continue reading