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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Kim Sweet, Executive Director of Advocates for Children of New York (AFC), issued the following statement in response to the release of the Fiscal Year 2021 Executive Budget.
Kim Sweet, Executive Director of Advocates for Children of New York (AFC), issued the following statement in response to the cancellation of the June Regents exams and the release of guidance from the New York State Education Department (NYSED) modifying graduation requirements for impacted students.
AFC wrote to U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, expressing our strong opposition to any waivers of federal laws protecting students with disabilities pursuant to the pandemic.
Advocates for Children joined 11 other organizations in calling on Chancellor Carranza to ensure that students who are homeless have access to the Regional Enrichment Centers when they open next week. While we do not question the decision to close schools in light of the current public health emergency, we are deeply concerned about the disproportionate impact long-term closures are likely to have on the more than 100,000 City students who are homeless.
AFC joined 18 organizations committed to school stability and educational success for students in foster care in a joint statement in response to an ACS draft policy, urging the City to guarantee busing or other comparable transportation for students in foster care who need it to remain in their schools.
AFC submitted comments to the Administration for Children’s Services on their draft policy regarding school continuity and stability for children in child welfare foster care placements.
AFC testified before the City Council Committee on Education about the importance of class size reduction.
AFC submitted comments on the Department of Education’s proposed changes to Chancellor’s Regulation A-101 regarding school transfers, admissions, and enrollment.
AFC testified at the New York State Joint Legislative Hearing on the 2020–2021 Elementary and Secondary Education Budget proposal, urging legislators to fully fund Foundation Aid; increase investments in targeted areas such as preschool special education programs, support for Multilingual Learners, and positive approaches to discipline; and reject the harmful special education waiver proposal.
As a result of years of under-investment by the State in preschool special education programs, New York is falling far short of providing all children with the preschool special education classes they need and have a legal right to receive. This policy brief shows a projected shortfall of more than 1,000 preschool special education class seats for New York City children with disabilities for spring 2020.