Policy

Public Comments & Testimony Archive: 2020

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AFC Testifies on the Impact of COVID-19 on Child Care, December 16, 2020
AFC testified before the City Council Committee on Education and Committee on Women and Gender Equity about the shortage of preschool special education programs and the problem of Learning Bridges child care programs excluding children with disabilities.

AFC Testifies on Foster Care Task Force Progress, November 24, 2020
AFC testified before the New York City Council Committee on General Welfare on the City’s progress toward advancing the recommendations of the Interagency Foster Care Task Force, including the three recommendations focused specifically on education.

AFC Testifies on Examining Social-Emotional Learning and Support Staff in Schools, November 20, 2020
AFC testified before the New York City Council Committee on Education’s hearing about the critical need for social-emotional and mental health support for students, and the City's commitment to remove police from schools and craft a new vision of school safety that ensures all students are truly safe and supported.

AFC Testifies on the Impact of COVID-19 on NYC's Students with Disabilities, October 23, 2020
AFC testified before the New York City Council Committee on Education about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the education of NYC’s students with disabilities.

The ARISE Coalition Testifies on the Impact of COVID-19 on NYC's Students with Disabilities, October 23, 2020
The ARISE Coalition (which is coordinated by AFC) testified before the City Council Committee on Education about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the education of NYC’s students with disabilities.

AFC Testifies on School Reopening, October 16, 2020
AFC testified before the New York City Council Committee on Education and Committee on Health regarding the reopening of City schools. As the City continues working on the health and safety measures needed to protect school communities from COVID-19 this year, the City must also redouble its outreach efforts and provide individualized support to families of students who are not regularly engaging in remote learning.

AFC Testifies on the Digital Divide, October 13, 2020
AFC testified before the New York City Council Committee on Technology and Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises about the digital divide's consequences for public education.

Sign-On Letter Regarding the Urgent Education Needs of Students Experiencing Homelessness, September 16, 2020
More than 30 organizations sent a letter to Mayor de Blasio, urging the City to develop a coordinated interagency plan and designate a point person to work across agencies to ensure that every student who is homeless can participate in learning this year.

63 Organizations Call For a Statewide Moratorium on Suspensions, August 31, 2020
AFC joined more than 60 organizations to call on New York State to issue a moratorium on suspensions for the 2020-2021 school year to ensure every child has the best possible chance to make up for lost classroom time, and for schools to reopen after a traumatic year in a manner that promotes equity and healing.

AFC Testifies on Proposed NYSED Changes to Special Education Regulations, August 31, 2020
AFC submitted comments urging the New York State Education Department to reject proposed regulations that would allow non-attorneys to serve as hearing officers in special education cases.

AFC and Girls for Gender Equity Share Recommendations for a Restorative Reopening, August 31, 2020
AFC and Girls for Gender Equity (GGE) call on Chancellor Carrazna to halt punitive school discipline policies this fall and ensure DOE plans for school reopening are trauma-informed, culturally-responsive, and grounded in restorative practices.

Sign-On Letter Regarding School Reopening Plan for Students Experiencing Homelessness, August 4, 2020
AFC joins more than 30 organizations calling on Mayor de Blasio to prioritize the educational needs of students who are homeless in plans for the reopening of schools this fall.

Sign-On Letter on Behalf of Students in Foster Care, June 24, 2020
AFC joins more than 20 organizations calling on the DOE to appoint a senior-level leader to focus full-time on students in foster care.

AFC Urges DOE to Follow State Guidance & Let 21-Year-Old Students Stay in School, June 24, 2020
AFC issued a statement srongly urging the DOE and districts across New York State to follow NYSED’s recommendation and provide all young people aging out without a diploma the opportunity to complete their education and prepare for life after high school. 

AFC Calls on New York City to Invest in Education, Not Criminalization, June 23, 2020
AFC released a policy brief summarizing the devastating impact of proposed cuts to education funding in the Mayor's FY21 Executive Budget, and urging Mayor de Blasio and the City Council to reject cuts to education and ensure schools have more resources—not less—to address the challenges caused by the pandemic.

Sign-On Letter Regarding Early Intervention Transition, June 16, 2020
AFC joined more than 80 organizations calling on the State to ensure that children do not lose Early Intervention services due to the difficulties getting preschool evaluations during the pandemic. 

AFC Calls for $205B Investment in Public Education in the Next COVID Response Bill, June 9, 2020
AFC joined more than 80 other education, social service, and civil rights organizations in calling on the entire New York City Congressional delegation to invest $205B in public education in the next COVID response bill. 

AFC Testifies on Proposed NYSED Changes to Special Education Regulations, June 11, 2020
AFC's testimony urged the State to reject proposed regulations that would allow non-attorneys to serve as hearing officers in special education cases.

AFC Testifies on Remote Learning, May 27, 2020
AFC's testimony focused on the challenges our clients have experienced and the need for the DOE to address the barriers students are facing so they can participate in remote summer school.

AFC Testifies on the New York City FY 2021 Executive Budget, May 21, 2020
AFC testified before the City Council about the importance of rejecting proposed cuts to schools and investing in education initiatives that will help students get needed support when they return to school.

The ARISE Coalition Testifies on the New York City FY 2021 Executive Budget, May 21, 2020
The ARISE Coalition (which is coordinated by AFC) testified before the City Council about the importance of ensuring that the budget protects mandated instruction and services and key supports for students with disabilities.

AFC Submits Comments on NYSED Changes to Special Education Regulations, May 15, 2020
AFC submitted comments to NYSED on changes to the state special education regulations, urging the State to reject proposed regulations that would allow non-attorneys to serve as hearing officers in special education cases.

Sign-On Letter Calling for a Mental Health Continuum, April 17, 2020
AFC joined 40 organizations calling on Mayor de Blasio to prioritize and fund necessary mental health services for all students.  

AFC Writes to U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos Regarding Potential IDEA Waivers, April 3, 2020
AFC wrote to U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos indicating our strong opposition to any waivers to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

Sign-On Letter Calling for Access to Regional Enrichment Centers for Students who are Homeless, March 20, 2020
AFC joined 11 organizations calling on Chancellor Carranza to ensure that students who are homeless have access to the Regional Enrichment Centers.

Sign-On Letter Calling for Transportation for Students in Foster Care, March 9, 2020
AFC joined 18 child welfare and education organizations in a joint statement calling on the City guarantee busing or other comparable transportation for students in foster care who need it to remain in their schools.

AFC Submits Comments on ACS Draft Policy, March 6, 2020
AFC submitted comments to the Administration for Children’s Services on their draft policy regarding school continuity and stability for children in child welfare foster care placements.

AFC Testifies on Class Size Reduction, February 28, 2020
AFC testified before the City Council Committee on Education about the importance of class size reduction.

AFC Submits Comments on Proposed Amendments to Chancellor’s Regulation A-101, February 24, 2020
AFC submitted comments on the Department of Education’s proposed changes to Chancellor’s Regulation A-101 regarding school transfers, admissions, and enrollment.

AFC Testifies on the 2020-2021 State Education Budget Proposal, February 11, 2020
AFC is testifying at the New York State Joint Legislative Hearing on the 2020-2021 Elementary and Secondary Education Budget proposal, urging legislators to fully fund Foundation Aid; increase investments in targeted areas such as preschool special education programs, support for Multilingual Learners, and positive approaches to discipline; and reject the harmful special education waiver proposal.

AFC Testifies on Universal After-School Program Plan, January 14, 2020
AFC testified before the City Council Committee on Youth Services about access to after-school programming for students with disabilities, students in temporary housing and students in foster care and legislation related to universal after-school programming.