We understand how difficult it can be to navigate the New York City Department of Education. Parents can spend an enormous amount of time researching different programs or simply trying to understand their child’s school-related rights.
AFC’s free know-your-rights guides, tip sheets, and other resources can help you advocate successfully for your child.
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Explains the process of applying to middle/high schools and gives pointers for families of students with disabilities.
Your child’s IEP is a very important document and should be specific to your child’s needs. This worksheet helps you prepare for an upcoming IEP meeting, to figure out some areas where your child has made improvements and where they may need more support.
This fact sheet is for parents of children learning English who believe their child may need special education services. This tipsheet provides an overview of bilingual special education, including the steps for obtaining an initial bilingual evaluation and the specific services and resources their child could be eligible for.
Students with disabilities have special rights and protections when they are suspended from school or removed from class. One of those rights is a meeting, called a Manifestation Determination Review, that might help your child stay in the current classroom. This guide explains what happens at the meeting and how to prepare.
This guide gives a basic overview of the education rights of young people ages 7-21 in NYC with involvement in the juvenile or criminal justice system. It describes the education rights of youth in community and court-ordered settings, along with students’ transition back to school.
This tip sheet explains how to apply for SSI, a government-run program that provides cash assistance for people with disabilities.
Thirty-two questions you can ask at your child’s next Parent Teacher Conference to learn more about their progress, participation, learning style, and academic strengths.
Detailed guide to the special education system in NYC and the rights of parents and students. Explains the process of referral, evaluation, IEP development, and placement, including information on non-public schools and due process rights.
This guide provides information on free/low-cost early childhood programs in New York City, including Pre-K, 3-K, Infant & Toddler programs, and Head Start, and how to find and apply to those programs.
Explains how to request and prepare for an impartial hearing in easy-to-understand language.