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Policy Resources

AFC works to change education policy so that the public school system serves all children effectively. We publish policy reports and data analyses, testify at the City and State levels, speak out in the press to bring attention to the challenges facing the students and families we serve, and join with other advocates, parents, youth, and educators to call for change.

Leading the Way for NYC Schools: Recommendations for the Next Administration
  • Policy Agenda

    • Leading the Way for NYC Schools: Recommendations for the Next Administration

    Based on our experience helping thousands of NYC families each year, we urge the next Mayor to take on big challenges with bold ideas and stand firm in the face of threats to students’ civil rights.
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    Response to the State Education Department’s Proposal to Sunset Diploma Assessment Requirements
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  • Press Statement
    • Response to the State Education Department’s Proposal to Sunset Diploma Assessment Requirements

    Maria Odom, Executive Director of Advocates for Children of New York (AFC), issued the following statement in response to the proposal approved this morning by the New York State Board of Regents for the State Education Department (SED) to take the necessary steps to move forward with sunsetting diploma assessment requirements starting in the 2027–28 school year.

    Sep 14, 2026

    AFC Submits Testimony Regarding a Proposed Study of Access to Special Education
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  • Testimony & Public Comment
    • AFC Submits Testimony Regarding a Proposed Study of Access to Special Education

    AFC submitted testimony to the New York City Council Committee on Education regarding Intro No. 853, which would require the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) to conduct a study on how language access needs, income, and geographic location affect access to special education programs and services.

    Jun 26, 2026

    Educational Indicators for Students in the Foster System, 2024–25
  • Issue Brief
    • Educational Indicators for Students in the Foster System, 2024–25

    This brief highlights key educational indicators for the 6,650 New York City students who spent time in foster care during the 2024–25 school year. The data, which were obtained from New York City Public Schools by AFC, show stark disparities between students in the foster system and their peers and illustrate the critical importance of school stability for this population.

    Jun 22, 2026

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