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 submitted comments on proposed changes to Chancellor’s Regulation A-701 regarding school health services.
AFC testified before the New York City Council Committee on Education in support of proposed legislation regulating the New York City Police Department’s response to students in emotional crisis within public schools, significantly limiting the use of handcuffs on students in emotional crisis, and to express concern about the need for a new vision of school safety, beyond merely transferring the School Safety Division from the NYPD to the Department of Education.
On January 28, 2021, AFC testified at the New York State Joint Legislative Hearing on the 2021-2022 Elementary and Secondary Education Budget proposal, urging legislators to increase, and not cut, state education funding and ensure schools can use their full COVID-19 relief funding to reopen schools and help students catch up.
AFC and the ARISE Coalition (coordinated by AFC) testified before the City Council Committee on Education about the impact of COVID-19 on student learning, outlining essential principles and critical elements that must be included in a comprehensive COVID-19 education recovery effort.
AFC submitted comments to the draft ACS-DOE joint policy on the reporting and investigating of educational neglect.
AFC testified before the City Council Committee on Education and Committee on Women and Gender Equity about the related issues of a shortage of preschool special education programs, and the problem of Learning Bridges child care programs excluding children with disabilities.
AFC testified before the New York City Council Committee on General Welfare on the City’s progress toward advancing the recommendations of the Interagency Foster Care Task Force, including the three recommendations focused specifically on education, and the need for DOE staff focused on the unique needs of this population.
AFC testified before the New York City Council Committee on Education’s hearing about the critical need for social-emotional and mental health support for students, and the City’s commitment to remove police from schools and craft a new vision of school safety that ensures all students are truly safe and supported.
AFC and the ARISE Coalition (coordinated by AFC) testified before the New York City Council Committee on Education about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the education of NYC’s more than 200,000 students with disabilities, many of whom cannot engage in remote instruction or services independently and many of whom simply are not getting what they need to learn.
AFC testified before the New York City Council Committee on Education and Committee on Health regarding the reopening of City schools. As the City continues working on the health and safety measures needed to protect school communities from COVID-19 this year, the City must also redouble its outreach efforts and provide individualized support to families of students who are not regularly engaging in remote learning.