More than 146,000 New York City students—about one in every eight children enrolled in the public schools—experienced homelessness during the 2023–24 school year, the ninth consecutive year in which more than 100,000 students were identified as homeless.
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.
More than 115 Organizations Call for Changes to New York State’s School Funding Formula
Every child in New York State has the right to a sound, basic education—and providing such an education requires adequate and equitable funding. More than 115 organizations are calling on Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature to revamp New York’s outdated school funding formula to ensure schools have the resources necessary to provide a high-quality education to all students, with particular attention to those who have the greatest needs.428 Results Found
This brief summarizes data on a subset of the more than 119,000 New York City students who were identified as homeless during the 2022–23 school year.
Today, AFC is testifying before the New York City Council Committee on Children and Youth and Committee on Education on recommendations for how to ensure that At the same time, there is more work to do to ensure that the students with the
greatest needs are able to fully participate in Summer Rising.
AFC submitted comments about the proposal to amend section 200.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner, regarding the ability of parents to file due process complaints seeking the implementation of services recommended on an Individualized Education Services Plan (“IESP”).
Today, AFC is testifying before the New York City Council Committee on General Welfare, jointly with the New York City Council Committee on Women and Gender Equity on supporting domestic violence survivors in NYC’s shelter system.
AFC submitted comments about proposed changes to Chancellor’s Regulation A-820 regarding access to educational records.
Today, AFC is testifying at a hearing of the New York State Education Department Dyslexia and Dysgraphia Task Force. Our testimony focuses on screening and intervention, emphasizing that moving the needle on literacy requires a comprehensive approach and a substantial and sustained commitment of resources.
Today, AFC and the ARISE Coalition (coordinated by AFC) are testifying before the New York City Council Committee on Education and Committee on Contracts about necessary upgrades to ensure students have safe, reliable, on-time transportation to school.
Kim Sweet, Executive Director of Advocates for Children of New York (AFC), issued the following statement in response to the announcement of Melissa Aviles-Ramos as the next schools Chancellor
Today, 116 organizations are calling on Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature to revamp New York’s outdated school funding formula to ensure schools have the resources necessary to provide a high-quality education to all students, with particular attention to those who have the greatest needs.