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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.

Leading the Way for NYC Schools: Recommendations for the Next Administration
  • Policy Agenda

    • Leading the Way for NYC Schools: Recommendations for the Next Administration

    Based on our experience helping thousands of NYC families each year, we urge the next Mayor to take on big challenges with bold ideas and stand firm in the face of threats to students’ civil rights.
    Closeup of student holding a pencil in class

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    AFC Testifies on EarlyLearn
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  • Testimony & Public Comment
    • AFC Testifies on EarlyLearn

    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.

    Jan 14, 2015

    AFC Testifies Regarding Diversity in New York City Schools
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  • Testimony & Public Comment
    • AFC Testifies Regarding Diversity in New York City Schools

    AFC testified before the City Council’s Education Committee about diversity in NYC schools. Ensuring that students from diverse backgrounds have access to high-achieving schools and programs is critical, but is only one step. As the City Council strives to ensure that every school and program in NYC serves a diverse group of students, the City and DOE need to prepare schools to provide an excellent education to these students. Schools need resources, training, and the development of specialized programs to meet the needs of all students, including English Language Learners and students with disabilities.

    Dec 11, 2014

    Sixteen Going on Seventh Grade: Over-Age Students in New York City Middle Schools
    Male teenager hides his head in his arms as he sits on the floor of a classroom.
  • Policy Report
    • Sixteen Going on Seventh Grade: Over-Age Students in New York City Middle Schools

    More than 50,000 middle school students – a quarter of the students in New York City’s public middle schools – have been left back at least once, and more than 8,500 students have been left back at least 3 times. Despite their significant academic and social-emotional needs, there are fewer than 450 seats in programs for over-age middle school students in the City’s traditional public and charter schools. This September 2014 policy report brings attention to the unique needs of over-age middle schoolers and provides the New York City Department of Education (DOE) with recommendations for improving outcomes for this population.

    Sep 9, 2014

    AFC Submits Comments on Disproportionality under IDEA to the U.S. Department of Education
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  • Testimony & Public Comment
    • AFC Submits Comments on Disproportionality under IDEA to the U.S. Department of Education

    AFC submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Education regarding disproportionality under Section 618(d) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Our comments focus on racial disproportionality in the identification, placement, and discipline of children with disabilities in New York City.

    Jul 29, 2014

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