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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.

More than 115 Organizations Call for Changes to New York State’s School Funding Formula
  • Sign-On Letter

    • 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 More than 115 organizations are calling on Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature to revamp New York’s outdated school funding formula to ensure schools have the resources necessary to provide a high-quality education to all students, with particular attention to those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.
    Desks facing a chalkboard in an empty classroom. (Photo by maroke, Adobe Stock)

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    AFC Testifies on the New York City FY 2024 Preliminary Health & Mental Health Budget
    New York City City Hall Building
  • Testimony & Public Comment
    • AFC Testifies on the New York City FY 2024 Preliminary Health & Mental Health Budget

    AFC testified before the City Council Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities and Addiction and the Committee on Health on the need for school-based social-emotional, behavioral, and mental health services, and for extending funding for the Mental Health Continuum, which will expire in June.

    Mar 24, 2023

    AFC Testifies on the New York City Fiscal Year 2024 Preliminary Budget – General Welfare
    New York City City Hall Building
  • Testimony & Public Comment
    • AFC Testifies on the New York City Fiscal Year 2024 Preliminary Budget – General Welfare

    AFC testified before New York City Council Committee on General Welfare regarding the need to extend funding for Promise NYC, a crucial initiative that increases access to early childhood programs for children who are undocumented. Without action by the City, funding for this initiative will expire in June, leaving hundreds of children at risk of being turned away from their program.

    Mar 13, 2023

    AFC Testifies on the 2023–2024 State Health Budget Proposal
    New York State capitol building
  • Testimony & Public Comment
    • AFC Testifies on the 2023–2024 State Health Budget Proposal

    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.

    Feb 28, 2023

    AFC Testifies on Access to Early Childhood Education Programs
    New York City City Hall Building
  • Testimony & Public Comment
    • AFC Testifies on Access to Early Childhood Education Programs

    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.

    Feb 15, 2023

    AFC Testifies on the 2023–2024 State Education Budget Proposal
    New York State capitol building
  • Testimony & Public Comment
    • AFC Testifies on the 2023–2024 State Education Budget Proposal

    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.

    Feb 8, 2023

    AFC Testifies on DOE’s New Admissions Processes and Establishing a Bullying Prevention Task Force
    New York City City Hall Building
  • Testimony & Public Comment
    • AFC Testifies on DOE’s New Admissions Processes and Establishing a Bullying Prevention Task Force

    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.

    Jan 25, 2023

    Building on Potential: Next Steps to Improve Educational Outcomes for Students in Foster Care
    Students writing in their notebooks. (Photo by Katerina Holmes from Pexels)
  • Policy Report
    • Building on Potential: Next Steps to Improve Educational Outcomes for Students in Foster Care

    This January 2023 report provides an overview of the current — and dire — state of education for students in foster care in New York City. The report analyzes City data obtained through a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request and makes recommendations for how the City can better support students in foster care now that the DOE’s new foster care team is up and running.

    Jan 25, 2023

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