The June 2023 brief shows the urgent need to reject proposed cuts and provide targeted investments to support immigrant students and families, including the more than 18,000 new students in temporary housing—most of whom are recently arrived immigrants—who have enrolled in New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) in the past year.
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 More than 115 organizations are calling on Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature to revamp New York’s outdated school funding formula to ensure schools have the resources necessary to provide a high-quality education to all students, with particular attention to those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.428 Results Found
AFC testified before the New York City Council Committee on Immigration and Committee on Women and Gender Equity regarding early childhood education, calling on the City to extend funding for Promise NYC in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget.
AFC joined 16 organizations to call on lawmakers to oppose the amended version of S.1040-A. The proposed bill fails to make necessary changes to current law to reduce the disparate impact of punitive school discipline policies upon students of color.
This June 2023 data analysis shows that 37% of all preschoolers with disabilities—a total 9,800 children—went the entire 2021–22 school year without receiving at least one of the types of services the DOE was legally required to provide, a systemic violation of students’ rights. The report analyzes DOE data, which likely significantly understate the magnitude of the problem, and makes recommendations for needed changes moving forward.
AFC testified before the New York City Council Committee on Finance regarding the FY 2024 Executive Budget, speaking out against proposed budget cuts.
AFC testified before the New York State Senate Committees on Education and New York City Education in strong support of the Judith Kaye Solutions Not Suspensions (SNS) Act (A. 5691/S. 1040). Our testimony discusses data and reports illustrating the harm, and civil rights crisis, from exclusionary discipline disproportionately applied to certain student populations.
Kim Sweet, Executive Director of Advocates for Children of New York, issued the following statement in response to the Chancellor’s announced changes to literacy instruction in New York City Public Schools.
AFC submitted comments to NYSED on proposed changes to the state regulations on special education impartial hearings.
Kim Sweet, Executive Director of Advocates for Children of New York (AFC), issued the following statement in response to the release of the Fiscal Year 2024 Executive Budget.
AFC submitted written testimony to the City Council Committe on Education regarding Intro No. 868, which would require the Department of Education (DOE) to report on the number of students attending District 75 schools and the criteria used to determine the location of District 75 schools.