AFC works to change education policy so that the public school system serves all children effectively. We publish policy reports and data analyses, testify at the City and State levels, speak out in the press to bring attention to the challenges facing the students and families we serve, and join with other advocates, parents, youth, and educators to call for change.
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AFC is testifying before the New York City Council Committee on Education regarding transfer schools and in support of Int. 1359, which would require the Department of Education to report on Manifestation Determination Reviews.
For the tenth year in a row, more than 100,000 students experienced homelessness during the 2024–25 school year—with the number topping 150,000 students for the first time.
This brief summarizes data on a subset of the more than 146,000 New York City students who were identified as homeless during the 2023–24 school year.
Today, AFC is testifying before the New York City Council Committee on Education, highlighting several concerns around language access in New York City schools and making recommendations for improving communication with families who speak languages other than English.
AFC is testifying before the City Council Committee on Children and Youth about the need for the City to ensure after-school programs are equipped to meet the needs of all students, including students with disabilities, and to provide bus service home from after-school programs so that students who rely on busing are able to participate.
Kim Sweet, Executive Director of Advocates for Children of New York (AFC), issued the following statement in response to the release of the 2025 New York State English Language Arts (ELA) test scores for New York City students in grades 3–8.
Kim Sweet, Executive Director of Advocates for Children of New York (AFC), issued the following statement in response to the Fiscal Year 2026 city budget agreement.
Today, AFC is testifying before the New York City Council Committee on Education and Committee on Civil and Human Rights on advancing diversity and equity in NYC Public Schools.
AFC submitted testimony to the NYC Council Committee on Finance, Committee on Health, and Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities and Addiction, urging the City to baseline funding for the Mental Health Continuum and add funding to enhance services at school-based mental health clinics.
AFC submitted testimony to the New York City Council Committee on Finance and Committee on Hospitals, urging the City to baseline funding for the Mental Health Continuum so that students, families, clinicians, and school communities will know that they can rely on its services beyond FY 2026.
A successful school year starts with the right supports.