Leading the Way for NYC Schools: Recommendations for the Next Administration
Based on our experience helping thousands of NYC families each year, we urge the next Mayor to take on big challenges with bold ideas and stand firm in the face of threats to students’ civil rights.
This May 2018 report documents the number of New York City schools with high concentrations of students living in shelters that do not have a social worker focused on this population. AFC’s analysis shows that the Mayor’s proposed modest increase in funding falls far short of meeting the need, and calls on the City to double the number of school social workers focused on serving students living in shelters.
AFC testified before the New York City Council Committee on Youth Services regarding a proposal to establish an anti-bullying hotline and an anti-bullying mobile device application. AFC urges the City to invest in building positive, inclusive school climates by implementing anti-bullying training and funding whole-school evidence-based approaches.
AFC testified before the City Council Immigration Committee about the importance of addressing barriers that immigrant families face in accessing preschool special education evaluations and other early childhood education programs.
AFC submitted comments to the New York City Board of Health on proposed regulations regarding child care, with a focus on children who are homeless and children with developmental delays or disabilities.
AFC testified before the City Council Committees on Education, Finance, and Land Use about the need to increase resources to make more NYC schools accessible to students, families, and staff with physical disabilities.
AFC testified before the New York City Council Committee on Education regarding the Fiscal Year 2019 Capital Budget, calling for increased funding for improving school accessibility.
AFC testified before the New York City Council Committee on Education regarding the Fiscal Year 2019 Preliminary Budget, calling for increased funding for support for students in temporary housing, busing for students in foster care, and school climate initiatives.
In March 2018, Advocates for Children and Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York jointly issued recommendations for expanding support for students experiencing homelessness, and sixteen leading child advocacy, education, and housing organizations sent a letter to Mayor de Blasio urging him to include a significant infusion of resources in the budget to support these students.
