AFC’s Early Childhood Education Project provides individual case assistance, community education, and policy advocacy to improve access and equity in early childhood education so that all children enter kindergarten prepared to succeed.
The first five years of children’s lives are a crucial period in their development. We help families navigate the City’s various early childhood education programs and work to remove barriers that prevent low-income families from accessing services during these key years, with a focus on young children with developmental delays or disabilities, children from immigrant families, and children in temporary housing.
When three-year-old Julian exhibited difficulty understanding language and expressing himself, his mother sought a special education evaluation. Although the DOE initially approved Julian to receive speech therapy, then they called to say he was no longer be eligible.
Now that she is in an appropriate program that can meet her needs, Mia loves preschool, has made enormous progress, and is no longer getting in trouble.
With AFC's help, Charlene's mother found a school where her daughter could thrive, one that specializes in working with high-functioning children with behavioral challenges like Charlene
Tell NYS to Keep Its Promise to Young Children with Disabilities
Infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities are going without their mandated Early Intervention (EI) services because of a shortage of providers. Tell Governor Hochul and State leaders to move forward right away with the EI payment rate increase that was announced in January.
Learn more about early childhood education programs for New York City’s youngest learners, including the legal rights of young children with developmental delays or disabilities and services they can receive in Early Intervention, preschool special education, and kindergarten.
Our free trainings and workshops provide important information to help parents, communities, and professionals advocate effectively on behalf of their children
