AFC trabaja para cambiar la política educativa para que el sistema de escuelas públicas sirva todo niños de manera efectiva. Publicamos informes de políticas y análisis de datos, testificamos a nivel municipal y estatal, hablamos en la prensa para llamar la atención sobre los desafíos que enfrentan los estudiantes y las familias a las que servimos, y nos unimos a otros defensores, padres, jóvenes y educadores para pedir cambiar.
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 More than 115 organizations are calling on Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature to revamp New York’s outdated school funding formula to ensure schools have the resources necessary to provide a high-quality education to all students, with particular attention to those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.
AFC testificó ante el Comité de Seguridad Pública del Ayuntamiento de Nueva York sobre el papel de la policía de Nueva York en la disciplina escolar y cuestiones de salud mental. Solicitamos una realineación de los recursos de la Ciudad para reflejar la necesidad crítica de apoyar adecuadamente las necesidades socioemocionales de los estudiantes y abordar las sorprendentes disparidades raciales en las intervenciones policiales.
AFC testified before the City Council Education Committee offering several recommendations to prevent and address bullying behavior, including expanding whole-school trainings that improve school climate, better utilizing existing data, better utilizing Field Support Center personnel, increasing awareness of anti-bullying resources, and improving reporting.
AFC submitted written testimony to the New York State Assembly Committee on Education about the need to increase the number of accessible school options for students, teachers, and family members with mobility, hearing, and vision needs.
AFC testified before the City Council Committee on Education and Committee on General Welfare about support for students who are homeless. We are calling on the City to ensure there is high-level leadership on this issue, expand the number of DOE social workers for these students, and devote additional resources to address the significant challenges faced by the rising number of students who are homeless.
AFC submitted comments to the United States Department of Education urging the Department to maintain regulations and non-regulatory guidance that delineate protections for students, especially students who have historically been marginalized or discriminated against.
AFC testified before the City Council Education Committee in support of Gender Sexuality Alliances (GSAs) in schools and recommending that every school post the contact information for its Respect For All Liaison on the school’s website.
AFC submitted comments on SUNY’s proposed regulations regarding charter school teacher certification. While we believe there is important work to be done across the State to strengthen teacher certification pathways, address shortages of qualified teachers in certain areas, and ensure there is an excellent teacher in every classroom, we are concerned that the proposed regulations would run counter to these goals and would violate state law.
