In April 2013, Advocates for Children of New York filed a complaint with the New York State Education Department (NYSED) against the NYC Department of Education (DOE), charging the DOE of systemically violating the law by failing to provide crucial behavioral supports for students with disabilities.  Providing these supports has been shown to decrease behaviors that often result in removing students from the classroom and/or suspending students.

NYSED issued a ruling on the complaint in November 2013. The NYSED decision affirmed AFC’s claim that the NYC DOE must address students’ behavior using Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs) as mandated by law.