We understand how difficult it can be to navigate the New York City Department of Education. Parents can spend an enormous amount of time researching different programs or simply trying to understand their child’s school-related rights.
AFC’s free know-your-rights guides, tip sheets, and other resources can help you advocate successfully for your child.
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A guide to public education programs for 3 and 4-year-olds for the 2025-26 school year. This guide provides information on free/low-cost early childhood programs in New York City, including Pre-K, 3-K, Infant & Toddler programs, and Head Start, and how to find and apply to those programs.
This guide explains the kindergarten admissions process and answers frequently asked questions. Includes information for families of students with disabilities, ELLs, and students in temporary housing.
A quick overview of the two processes that families of children with disabilities participate in as part of the transition to kindergarten: 1) applying to kindergarten and 2) creating the kindergarten Individualized Education Program (“IEP”).
This guide provides an overview of the kindergarten placement process for students who need school-aged special education services, including more detailed information on eligibility, referral, evaluations, Turning 5 IEP meeting, kindergarten placements, and what to do if a placement is inappropriate.
If you are arrested and charged, you can either be placed in secure detention facilities or non-secure detention facilities/placements. No matter where you are placed, you still have the right to an education! This one-pager covers your education rights while in placement and when leaving placement.
If your child’s behavior at school is affecting their learning, or the learning of other students, a Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) or Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP) may help manage the behavior. This fact sheet provides information about who might benefit from FBAs and BIP; when an FBA and BIP should and must be done; and covers the rights of students with disabilities to get an FBA and BIP.
This fact sheet provides an outline of the annual standardized state tests that are administered to New York City students and explains the specific testing accommodations made for ELLs.
Tips for how to troubleshoot and resolve some of the most frequent issues with transportation services for NYC students.
Suggested questions to ask your child’s teachers about how well they’re learning to read and write.
This fact sheet explains school options for students who are struggling in middle school and high school and need a fresh start, including transfer schools, YABCs, and high school equivalency programs.