Preparing all students for emergencies is important, but it is especially so for students with disabilities. Under federal law, schools must create emergency plans for students with disabilities.

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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.
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.
Gives recommendations for foster care agencies to empower and engage parents in educational planning when their children are in foster care; includes reproducible templates and resources.
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.
If you believe that an action taken by a school district is wrong and violates the law, one way to challenge the school district’s act is to appeal to the New York State Commissioner of Education. This fact sheet explains how to file an appeal.
Outline of the basic requirements for a co-location appeal.
This fact sheet explains the rights immigrant students and their families have in addressing incidents of bullying at school. This tip sheet also answers questions immigrant families may have about how to formally report incidences of bullying to their child’s school.
The Department of Education is enormous, and navigating through the system is a tough job for anyone. These Tip Sheets can point you in the right direction and help you advocate for the right school and services for your child, from early intervention and preschool through high school and beyond.
The Department of Education is enormous, and navigating through the system is a tough job for anyone. These Tip Sheets can point you in the right direction and help you advocate for the right school and services for your child, from early intervention and preschool through high school and beyond.