Policy Resources

Policy Report

Access Denied: School Accessibility in New York City

This October 2018 data brief finds that less than one in five of the City’s schools is categorized by the DOE as “fully accessible.” The report urges the City to use the forthcoming capital plan to reach an ambitious and attainable goal—making a third of all schools fully accessible by 2024.

Oct 10, 2018

Midsection of a girl sitting on the ground doing schoolwork. (Photo by Mary Taylor via Pexels)

Policy Report

Gaps in Social Workers for Students Living in Shelters

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.

May 24, 2018

Close-up of an open book. (Photo by Bilakis via Pexels)

White Paper

Advocacy Strategies to Stop the School-to-Prison Pipeline: From Working with Localities to Litigation

AFC presented this white paper at the 2018 national conference of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA). It discusses approaches that work to positively support students, improve school climate, and reduce suspensions, referrals to law enforcement, and inappropriate removals to the psychiatric emergency room. The paper also discusses strategies to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline and the disparate impact on students with disabilities and students of color, including working collaboratively with school districts and localities, advocating to change laws, and litigation.

Mar 10, 2018

Boy sits alone in a school hallway, his back against the lockers

Policy Report

Children in Crisis: Police Response to Students in Emotional Distress

This report analyzes data reported by the New York City Police Department (NYPD) showing that Black students are significantly over-represented in NYPD “child in crisis” interventions – incidents involving students in emotional distress sent to the hospital for psychological evaluation. The brief also examines the NYPD’s use of handcuffs on students as young as 5 years old during these incidents between July 2016 and June 2017.

Nov 2, 2017

A woman smiles at the camera while hugging a young boy.

Policy Report

Empowering Parents So Children Succeed: A Toolkit to Support Parent Involvement in Education when their Children are in Foster Care

This report, released jointly by AFC and SCO Family of Services, provides recommendations for child welfare agencies as well as an easy-to-use toolkit to support parent involvement in education when their children are in foster care.

Sep 29, 2017

Three students in a classroom working on a technical project. (Photo by Vanessa Loring from Pexels)

Policy Report

Missed Potential: English Language Learners Under-Represented in New York City Career and Technical Education Programs

This data brief analyzes city and state data showing that English Language Learners (ELLs) are under-represented in career and technical education (CTE) programs at New York City high schools. The report makes recommendations for steps the DOE can take to address barriers for ELLs.

Jul 24, 2017

Silhouette of a young child sitting on playground monkey bars.

Policy Report

Safe Havens: Protecting and Supporting New York State’s Immigrant Students

This May 2017 report, released by the Education Trust–New York, Advocates for Children of New York, the New York Immigration Coalition, and the Committee for Hispanic Children and Families, urges New York school districts to better protect and support immigrant students and families.

May 17, 2017

Policy Report

Obstacles and Opportunities: Creating Career and Technical Education Pathways for Students with Disabilities

This December 2016 report analyzes access to high school-level career and technical education (CTE) programs for students with disabilities in New York State. Based on data findings and interviews with professionals, special education advocates, and parents of students with disabilities, the paper makes recommendations for addressing barriers to CTE.

Dec 8, 2016

White Paper

Discipline for Students with Disabilities: Support Rather than Exclusion

AFC presented this white paper at the 2016 national conference of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA). The paper discusses the rights of students with disabilities to behavioral supports, and individual and systemic advocacy strategies that provide support for students with disabilities instead of excluding them from school.

Mar 14, 2016

Two young girls sit back-to-back in a library, each reading a book.

Policy Report

A is for All: Meeting the Literacy Needs of Students with and without Disabilities in the New York City Public Schools

This report documents the need for urgent and sustained action to improve literacy levels for low-income students with disabilities and prepare schools to teach reading effectively for all students. It reviews research and case stories indicating that students with a wide range of disabilities are capable of learning to read if they receive appropriate instruction, discusses the key elements for teaching reading effectively, highlights a number of promising programs in NYC, and provides recommendations for implementing systemic change.

Mar 10, 2016

Call to Action to Sustain Education Programs Funded with Expiring Federal COVID-19 Relief

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