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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In response to the release of the Fiscal Year 2025 Executive Budget, Kim Sweet, Executive Director of Advocates for Children of New York (AFC), issued the following statement.
Today, AFC is testifying before the New York City Council Committee on Children & Youth regarding the need for improvement in the education services youth receive while in Close to Home programs, and the quality of transition services once their time in Close to Home programs ends.
AFC testified on school based mental health clinics, urging the City Council to ensure the budget includes funding to continue the Mental Health Continuum and sustain a range of important education programs currently funded with expiring federal dollars.
This brief highlights the impact of the 100 New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) shelter-based community coordinators (SBCCs) hired in 2022–23 and calls on Mayor Adams and the City Council to sustain funding for this critical initiative in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget. Funding for all 100 SBCC positions is set to run dry in June, and the City has not yet committed to continuing to fund their important work.
AFC submitted testimony to the New York City Council Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities and Addiction and the Committee on Health on the need to continue funding for the Mental Health Continuum.
AFC testified at the New York City Council Preliminary Budget Hearing on Children and Youth about the need for continued funding for Promise NYC, which provides early childhood education and for children who are undocumented.
Today, AFC and the ARISE Coalition (coordinated by AFC) are testifying at the NYC Council Committee on Education’s Preliminary Budget hearing. Numerous education programs, services, and staff positions are currently at risk of deep cuts as a result of the expiration of federal stimulus funding, the expiration of one-year city funding, and the Preliminary Budget cut of more than $700 million.
The Fiscal Year 2025 budget must save education programs that are providing critical support to some of New York City’s most marginalized students and families.
AFC testified at the Joint Legislative Hearing on the 2024–2025 Executive State Budget Proposal for Elementary and Secondary Education.
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