Today AFC is testifying before the New York City Council Committees on Public Safety and Education, and the Sub-Committee on Non-Public Schools, regarding school climate and discipline. AFC supports the passage of both Intro. No. 730, amending the Student Safety Act, and Intro. No. 719, requiring the DOE to report on the ratio of School Safety Officers (SSOs) to Guidance Counselors in each school.
Policy Resources
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.
More than 115 Organizations Call for Changes to New York State’s School Funding Formula
Every child in New York State has the right to a sound, basic education—and providing such an education requires adequate and equitable funding. More than 115 organizations are calling on Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature to revamp New York’s outdated school funding formula to ensure schools have the resources necessary to provide a high-quality education to all students, with particular attention to those who have the greatest needs.223 Results Found
AFC submitted testimony to the City Council Education Committee on resolutions regarding school funding, the charter school cap, and parents’ ability to opt out of standardized tests.
AFC and the ARISE Coalition, which is coordinated by AFC, each testified before the City Council Education Committee about the education proposals in the Fiscal Year 2016 Preliminary Budget.
AFC testified before the City Council Education Committee about the problem of overcrowding in schools and about the charter school cap. We believe it is premature to raise the cap on the number of charter schools before putting laws and practices in place that protect students’ civil rights in the context of school discipline and ensure that charter schools serve high-needs populations.
AFC testified at the DOE Office of Safety and Youth Development hearing on the draft school discipline code for 2014-2015. Our testimony focuses on the DOE’s revision to Infraction Code B21 and the importance of addressing the behavioral needs of Pre-K students.
AFC testified at the New York City Council Committee on General Welfare hearing on interagency collaboration between the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) to protect children in temporary housing. We urge ACS and DHS to create a long-term plan to enroll all eligible children living in the City’s shelters in early childhood education programs.
AFC Project Director Abja Midha testified at the New York City Council Committee on Education hearing on English Language Learners (ELLs). In our testimony, we raised concerns about the shortage of bilingual program options for ELLs, particularly in languages other than Spanish.
AFC testified on the proposed state education budget for 2015–2016, urging the Legislature to increase funding for pre-K, Career and Technical Education (CTE), and to support English Language Learners (ELLs) and immigrant students; reject the Executive Budget special education waiver proposal; modify the charter school proposal to ensure that charter schools serve high-needs populations; support the proposal to establish regional rates for Special Education Itinerant Teacher (SEIT) services; and increase education funding overall.
AFC testified at the City Council Committee on General Welfare oversight hearing on EarlyLearn. EarlyLearn programs need adequate funding, training, technical assistance, and support to serve all eligible preschool students, including those who need additional support in order to succeed in the classroom and prepare for kindergarten.
Today Advocates for Children testified before the City Council Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disability, Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, and Disability Services on the importance of the Early Intervention program.