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Julian’s Story

Julian is a 3-year-old preschooler with delays in his language skills, but the DOE failed to provide recommended services.

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  • Blog: AFC Testifies on the FY24 Executive Budget
    05.24.2023 | Today, AFC is testifying before the New York City Council Committee on Finance regarding the FY24 Executive Budget, speaking out against proposed budget cuts. In particular, three programs included as priorities in the City Council’s response to the preliminary budget are on the...
  • Page: Board of Directors
    Board of DirectorsKimberley D. Harris, PresidentNBCUniversalHarriet Chan King, Secretary Paul D. Becker, Treasurer Eric F. Grossman, President EmeritusMorgan StanleyCarmita AlonsoFragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy LLPMatt BerkeMorgan StanleyMatt DarnallElement CapitalJessica A....
  • Page: Guides & Resources
    Guides & ResourcesAdvocates for Children of New York (AFC) offers free know-your-rights guides, tip sheets, and other resources to help you understand New York City’s public school system. Click on the links below to view resources in your area of interest.Know Your Educational Rights: AFC's...
  • Page: Special Events
    Special Events2023 Spring BenefitPlease contact Linda Yassky at lyassky@afcnyc.org if you or your company would like to support the event at a sponsorship level or if you need further assistance.
  • Page: Guides & Resources: Early Childhood Education (Ages 0-5)
    Early Childhood Education: Ages 0-5Returning visitors to our resource library: If you have downloaded a publication before, we recommend clearing your browsing history before clicking the links below, to ensure you are viewing the most up-to-date versions. Note: Unless otherwise...
  • Page: Spring Benefit 2023: Thank you to our Sponsors
    Thank You To Our 2023 Sponsors!   SUMMA CUM LAUDE       CUM LAUDE       VALEDICTORIAN       HONOR ROLL       GRADUATE     SENIOR ...
  • Resource: Guide to Preschool Special Education Services
    This guide explains how you can help your preschool child receive services to address a developmental delay or disability. Read about the services available, step-by-step instructions for requesting services, and your rights. 
  • Page: Past Events
    Past Events2023 Spring BenefitLeft: AFC Executive Director Kim Sweet, 2023 Education Champion Charlotte Coté, and Richard Trobman, 2023 recipient of the Jill Chaifetz Award. Right: Master of Ceremonies Steve KornackiPhotos © Dave SandersThank you to everyone who joined us to honor Richard...
  • Blog: The Parents Who Fight the City for a “Free Appropriate Public Education”
    05.11.2023 | The New Yorker | Many—perhaps most—due-process claims circle around this fiscal void. Rebecca Shore, of Advocates for Children, told me, “It shouldn’t be a matter of, ‘Well, we have no providers, so we can’t provide this service.’ It should be, ‘There are no providers—what are the...
  • Blog: AFC Issues Statement in Response to NYC Literacy Instruction Announcement
    05.09.2023 | Today, Kim Sweet, Executive Director of Advocates for Children of New York (AFC), issued the following statement in response to the Chancellor’s announced changes to literacy instruction in New York City Public Schools: Parents count on schools to teach their children how to...
  • Blog: With City Child Care Program to End in June, Asylum-Seeking Parents Worry Over Plans for Summer
    04.03.2023 | City Limits | Both advocates and community-based organizations contracted by the city to offer services under Promise NYC argued that discontinuing the program after just six months would be deeply disruptive to the families, and the short-lived stability the aid helped bring. In...
  • Blog: Summer Rising applications are now open. Here’s everything you need to know.
    04.14.2023 | Chalkbeat NY | Last year, several families reported that their children did not have special education support by the start of Summer Rising, said Randi Levine, policy director for Advocates for Children. She said it’s “important that planning begin early” so that students aren’t...
  • Blog: Class Size Working Group Convened
    04.17.2023 | Politico NY Playbook | The Department of Education announced the members of the working group that will offer feedback for DOE leadership on the state’s new class size law. The members include City Council Education Chair Rita Joseph, Randi Levine of Advocates for Children of New York...
  • Blog: NYC Schools names smaller class size working group
    04.18.2023 | City & State | More than 40 people are positioned to help shape New York City’s transition to smaller class sizes, after the New York City Department of Education announced who will serve on the working group to weigh in on the new state law to gradually phase in stricter limits on...
  • Blog: Parents with public school children with special education needs sue DOE, allege required services are not being provided
    04.19.2023 | amNY | Advocates for Children of New York, a nonprofit that supports at-risk children, noted that many of the districts that failed to comply with required services were districts where asylum-seeking children and families are housed, such as District 2 in Chelsea, Manhattan, and...
  • Blog: Special commission debates the fate of Regents exams in New York
    04.20.2023 | Fox 5 NY | "They're not getting any additional academic benefits from passing the Regents exams," said Juliet Eisenstein a lawyer for Advocates For Children, a nonprofit. Eisenstein is one of 64 members on a special commission that is currently evaluating the future of Regents...
  • Blog: NYC’s education budget could drop by $960M next year under mayor’s proposal
    04.26.2023 | Chalkbeat NY | The mayor’s budget received a mixed reception from advocates, union officials, and budget experts. Kim Sweet, executive director at the nonprofit Advocates for Children, praised the funding for shelter coordinators, but raised alarms about broader spending cuts —...
  • Blog: Department of Education budget is set to shrink by nearly $1B under Mayor's proposal
    04.28.2023 | Gothamist | Advocates have called for reinvesting any savings the administration has found back into the schools. “We are concerned that the mayor is proposing to cut hundreds of millions of dollars from our City’s schools at a time when there are so many unmet needs,” said Kim...
  • Blog: Adams’ contention that proposed NYC education spending cuts won’t be felt in schools draws fire
    04.27.2023 | NY Daily News | “This budget fails to make the investments our students need and threatens the success of several key education initiatives that are just getting off the ground,” said Kim Sweet, executive director of Advocates for Children. “With the recent increase in the number...
  • Blog: Response to the Release of the Fiscal Year 2024 Executive Budget
    04.26.2023 | Today, Kim Sweet, Executive Director of Advocates for Children of New York (AFC), issued the following statement in response to the release of the Fiscal Year 2024 Executive Budget: We are relieved that the Executive Budget released today restores $3.3 million for shelter-based...