AFC testified before the Joint Legislative Public Hearing on the 2023–2024 Executive Budget Health Proposal regarding the need for a rate increase for Early Intervention (EI) in the 2023–2024 budget. The Executive Budget proposal does not include any increase or cost-of-living adjustment for EI providers, whose rates today are lower than they were 20 years ago or take any other steps to help address the State’s systemic failure to provide young children with timely access to their legally mandated EI services.
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 More than 115 organizations are calling on Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature to revamp New York’s outdated school funding formula to ensure schools have the resources necessary to provide a high-quality education to all students, with particular attention to those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 testified before the New York City Council Committee on Education on access to early childhood education programs, including for children with disabilities, children in temporary housing, and children who are undocumented. The City is currently relying on $88 million in federal COVID-19 stimulus funding this year to fund preschool special education initiatives—funding that will be expiring in the fall of 2024 and needs to be sustained.
AFC testified at the New York State Joint Legislative Hearing on the 2023–2024 Elementary and Secondary Education Budget proposal, supporting the historic increase in Foundation Aid and urging legislators to work with the Governor to modify the budget proposal including by increasing funding for preschool special education programs, support for English Language Learners, and school-based behavioral and mental health supports.
AFC testified before the New York City Council on Education regarding barriers to admissions for students from historically marginalized communities, and supporting the creation of a bullying prevention task force by strengthening Int. 0338-2022 to add parents and students with lived experience of bullying as required members of the task force and paid stipends for their time.
AFC testified before the New York City Council about the need to better support immigrant students and families amidst the recent influx of migrant families, including by increasing access to bilingual staff and programs, ensuring students get needed special education services, bolstering Transfer High School programs for older immigrant youth, and improving language access and communication with families.
AFC testified before the New York City Council Committee on Oversight and Investigation and the Committee on Education regarding persistent, long-standing issues with NYC school bus transportation services. The DOE must take action to develop the systems and procedures necessary to run an effective transportation system that gets all students to school every day.
AFC submitted comments to the New York State Department of Health in response to proposed changes to the Early Intervention Program regulations, and concerns about proposed amendments that do not comport with legal requirements and would be harmful to children and families.
AFC testified before the New York City Council Committee on Education about the need for the DOE to address delays in launching key programs funded by federal COVID-19 relief funds and for city, state, and federal elected leaders to begin planning to sustain long-overdue initiatives funded with this short-term funding.
AFC testified before the New York City Council Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities & Addiction and Committee on Youth Services to discuss the youth mental health crisis and urgent need for a comprehensive system to ensure that our young people have access to and receive behavioral and mental health supports in schools.
AFC submitted testimony to the New York City Council Committee on Oversight and Investigations and Committee on Finance regarding the DOE’s COVID-19 relief spending, asking the DOE to address delays in spending for important supports for students and urging city, state, and federal elected leaders to begin planning to sustain long-overdue initiatives funded by COVID-19 funding.