Members of the Emergency Coalition to Save Education Programs rally on the steps of City Hall prior to the March 2024 City Council hearing on the preliminary education budget.

Policy Advocacy

Based on our experience helping thousands of families each year, we work to change policies to address problems system-wide and ensure all New York City students get the support they need to learn.
  • Meet our team

    Randi Levine

    Policy Director (she/her)

    Maggie Moroff

    Senior Special Education Policy Coordinator (she/her)

    Sarah Part

    Senior Policy Analyst (she/her)

    May DePierro

    Policy Associate (she/they)

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Our Work

AFC's on-the-ground experience enables us to spot emerging trends in the NYC school system, identify systemic problems, and develop effective recommendations for change. We issue policy reports, meet with elected leaders, testify at public hearings, and speak out in the press to bring attention to the challenges facing the students and families we serve.

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New York State capitol building

AFC Testifies on the 2025–2026 State Education Budget Proposal

Jan 29, 2025
Close-up of a teenage girl writing in her textbook while sitting at desk in classroom. (Photo by Jacob Lund, Adobe Stock)

Leading the Way for NYC Schools: Recommendations for the Next Administration

Feb 25, 2025
Close-up of three pencils lying on a desk.

Response to Executive Order on the Future of the U.S. Department of Education

Mar 21, 2025

City Budget Priorities

For Fiscal Year 2026, we're calling on NYC to sustain important education programs funded with one-year city dollars set to expire in June and to make additional investments to address pressing needs.
Read our budget agenda

Take Action

Tell State Leaders: Don’t Shortchange NYC Schools

Email Governor Hochul and key NYS legislators and urge them to update the Foundation Aid formula to give all schools the funding they need.

Send an email

Tell City Leaders: Preschool Special Education Services Are Not Optional

As of March 2025, more than 7,900 preschoolers were waiting for at least one of their legally mandated services, like speech therapy or counseling, to begin. Tell city leaders to add at least $70 million in the FY 2026 budget to give preschoolers with disabilities the evaluations, services, and classes they need.

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