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.
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Kim Sweet, Executive Director of Advocates for Children of New York, issued the following statement in response to the President’s Executive Order seeking to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.
AFC submitted testimony to the New York City Council Committee on Children and Youth regarding the need for continued funding for critical early childhood care and education programs.
Today, AFC and the ARISE Coalition (coordinated by AFC) are testifying at the New York City Council Committee on Education’s Preliminary Budget hearing.
Excellent public schools are essential to making New York City an attractive place to live and raise a family and to ensuring a strong foundation for our City’s future. Regardless of what happens at the federal level in the years ahead, it will be essential for New York City Public Schools to remain focused on the critical task of ensuring all young people receive the support they need to learn and thrive. Based on our experience helping thousands of New York City families each year, we urge the next Mayoral Administration to take on big challenges with bold ideas and stand firm in the face of threats to students’ civil rights.
As the City moves forward under the new Presidential Administration, AFC and the Newcomer Education Network (NEN) strongly urge New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) to strengthen existing policies and implement additional measures to safeguard immigrant students’ right to access public education.
The Fiscal Year 2026 budget must sustain important education programs funded with one-year city dollars set to expire in June 2025 and make additional investments to address pressing needs.
Today, 116 organizations are calling on Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature to revamp New York’s outdated school funding formula to ensure schools have the resources necessary to provide a high-quality education to all students, with particular attention to those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.
AFC submitted comments to the Rockefeller Institute of Government about the state Foundation Aid education funding formula. New York State must revise the formula to meet the needs of today’s schools and students, including students who need the most support.
Today, AFC is testifying before the New York City Council Committee on Education regarding Intro. 266, establishing a bullying prevention task force; Intro. 399, requiring reporting on compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act; Intro. 733, requiring reporting on Career and Technical Education; and Intro. 771, requiring distribution of information on interpretation services.
Today, AFC and the ARISE Coalition (coordinated by AFC) are testifying before the New York City Council Committee on Education and Committee on Finance regarding the FY 2025 Executive Budget and the FY 2025–2029 Capital Plan. Our testimony calls on the City to sustain funding for several critical programs that are still on the chopping block and to invest $1.25B to make more schools accessible.