AFC’s Fiscal Year 2019 City Budget Priorities

06.06.2018 | On March 23, AFC testified before the New York City Council Committee on Education regarding the Fiscal Year 2019 Preliminary Budget. On May 24, we testified before the City Council Committee on Finance regarding the Executive Budget. Read our full March [PDF] and May [PDF] testimonies, and click on the links below to learn more about each of AFC's advocacy priorities. 

Support for students who are homeless [PDF] 
In 2016-17, a record 104,088 New York City students were identified as homeless, yet the FY19 Preliminary Budget would eliminate funding for DOE social workers and other supports for students living in shelters. The final budget must restore and baseline last year's funding to continue these initiatives, and add an additional $20 million to increase the number of DOE social workers dedicated to supporting students who are homeless, provide support to schools through the Field Support Centers, and establish high-level DOE leadership focused on this population.

Along with fifteen leading child advocacy, education, and housing organizations, AFC sent a letter to Mayor de Blasio [PDF], urging him to include a significant infusion of resources in the budget to support students experiencing homelessness. AFC and Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York have also issued Recommendations for Improving School Access and Success for Rising Numbers of Students in Temporary Housing [PDF]. 

On April 16, 30 New York City Council Members and the Council's Progressive Caucus called on the Mayor to increase funding for students who are homeless, sending a letter to City Hall [PDF] in support of these proposals.

On June 4, 16 organizations sent a second letter to Mayor de Blasio [PDF] calling on him to invest more resources to support students who are homeless, including by increasing the number of Bridging the Gap school social workers who serve students living in shelter from the 53 social workers proposed in the Executive Budget to 100 social workers. 

Busing for K-6 students in foster care [PDF] 
Three out of 10 students have to change schools upon their initial placement in foster care in New York City, often because they have no way to get to their original schools. The FY19 budget should include $5 million for yellow bus service for students in grades K-6 in foster care to ensure school remains a source of stability in their lives.

On June 4, 27 organizations sent a letter [PDF] to Mayor de Blasio calling on him to invest more resources to support students in foster care, including by extending bus service to students in foster care so they are not forced to transfer schools.

Investments in evidence-based practices to improve school climate [PDF] 
We urge the City to include $2.8 million per year to launch and sustain a mental health support continuum pilot to help ensure that students in 20 high-needs schools have access to direct mental health services when needed, as well as an additional $1 million per year to implement whole-school Collaborative Problem Solving in 25 high-needs schools.

Increased funding to improve school accessibility [PDF] 
Given the current lack of fully accessible school buildings, students with physical disabilities have limited options when applying to pre-K, elementary, middle, and high school programs. AFC recommends the City dedicate an additional $125 million towards making 15-17 additional schools fully accessible and improving the accessibility of additional schools through minor renovation projects. 

On March 26, we testified before the New York City Council Committee on Education regarding this proposal. Read our testimony [PDF].