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 in response to the New York State Department of Health’s proposed changes to the state Early Intervention Program regulations.
Advocates for Children of New York submitted comments to the New York State Education Department on proposed amendments to the regulations regarding New York’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) accountability system. Our comments discuss the proposed definition of “out-of-school suspension rate” as well as the State’s method for calculating chronic absenteeism.
AFC submitted comments to the New York State Education Department in support of proposed amendments to regulations regarding the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA). We appreciate NYSED’s efforts to clarify that DASA protects all aspects of gender identity and expression and provide suggestions for further clarifying and strengthening the language.
AFC testified before the City Council Committee on Education and Committee on General Welfare about how 3-K, Pre-K, and EarlyLearn can better serve students who are homeless, Dual Language Learners, and students with disabilities.
Kim Sweet, Executive Director of Advocates for Children of New York (AFC), issued the following statement in response to the New York City Council’s vote to adopt the Fiscal Year 2019 city budget.
This May 2018 report documents the number of New York City schools with high concentrations of students living in shelters that do not have a social worker focused on this population. AFC’s analysis shows that the Mayor’s proposed modest increase in funding falls far short of meeting the need, and calls on the City to double the number of school social workers focused on serving students living in shelters.
Members of the ARISE Coalition, which is coordinated by AFC, and Parents for Inclusive Education (PIE) wrote to Mayor de Blasio and the New York City Council, urging them to ensure that the final FY 2019 budget includes the City Council’s recommendation for an additional $125 million for school accessibility projects.
AFC testified before the New York City Council Committee on Youth Services regarding a proposal to establish an anti-bullying hotline and an anti-bullying mobile device application. AFC urges the City to invest in building positive, inclusive school climates by implementing anti-bullying training and funding whole-school evidence-based approaches.
AFC testified before the City Council Immigration Committee about the importance of addressing barriers that immigrant families face in accessing preschool special education evaluations and other early childhood education programs.