AFC and the ARISE Coalition (coordinated by AFC) testified before the New York City Council Committee on Finance about the importance of rejecting proposed cuts to schools and investing in education initiatives that will help students get needed support when they return to school, including funding for preschool special education classes, direct mental health support for students, guaranteed transportation for students in foster care, support for English Language Learners, and more.
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 More than 115 organizations are calling on Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature to revamp New York’s outdated school funding formula to ensure schools have the resources necessary to provide a high-quality education to all students, with particular attention to those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.70 Results Found
Advocates for Children joined more than 30 other signatories in providing feedback and recommendations on the DOE’s proposed grading policy for the 2019-20 school year. In light of the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19-related school closures, the letter urges the DOE to give course credit to all students this semester in lieu of a grading system, and to design a separate system to provide needed support to students who have fallen behind.
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.
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.
AFC submitted comments on the DOE’s proposed changes to Chancellor’s Regulation A-101 regarding school transfers, admissions, and enrollment.
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.
AFC submitted public comments to the New York State Education Department on the State’s draft Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan.
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.
AFC testified before the New York City Council Committees on Immigration, Public Safety, and Education, urging the DOE to issue guidance to address the collection of sensitive immigration information and to address the very likely situation of immigrant parents being picked up by ICE during the day, while their children are at school.