AFC testified at the New York City Council Committee on General Welfare hearing on interagency collaboration between the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) to protect children in temporary housing. We urge ACS and DHS to create a long-term plan to enroll all eligible children living in the City’s shelters in early childhood education programs.

AFC Project Director Abja Midha testified at the New York City Council Committee on Education hearing on English Language Learners (ELLs). In our testimony, we raised concerns about the shortage of bilingual program options for ELLs, particularly in languages other than Spanish.

This February 2015 report describes findings made from AFC’s review of 164 New York City charter school discipline policies obtained through Freedom of Information Law requests. A significant number of City charter schools have discipline policies that fail to meet the legal requirements, leading to violations of students’ and parents’ civil rights. The report includes recommendations for state legislators to consider as they discuss raising the cap on charter schools and ensuring that charter schools serve high-needs students.

AFC testified on the proposed state education budget for 2015–2016, urging the Legislature to increase funding for pre-K, Career and Technical Education (CTE), and to support English Language Learners (ELLs) and immigrant students; reject the Executive Budget special education waiver proposal; modify the charter school proposal to ensure that charter schools serve high-needs populations; support the proposal to establish regional rates for Special Education Itinerant Teacher (SEIT) services; and increase education funding overall.

AFC testified at the City Council Committee on General Welfare oversight hearing on EarlyLearn. EarlyLearn programs need adequate funding, training, technical assistance, and support to serve all eligible preschool students, including those who need additional support in order to succeed in the classroom and prepare for kindergarten.

Today Advocates for Children testified before the City Council Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disability, Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, and Disability Services on the importance of the Early Intervention program.

AFC testified before the City Council’s Education Committee about diversity in NYC schools. Ensuring that students from diverse backgrounds have access to high-achieving schools and programs is critical, but is only one step. As the City Council strives to ensure that every school and program in NYC serves a diverse group of students, the City and DOE need to prepare schools to provide an excellent education to these students. Schools need resources, training, and the development of specialized programs to meet the needs of all students, including English Language Learners and students with disabilities.

AFC testified at the New York City Council Committee on Education’s oversight hearing on special education instruction and student achievement. Our testimony focuses on the need to improve literacy instruction, including for students with disabilities.

AFC testified before the New York City Council Committee on Education regarding guidance counselors in schools and expanding college access for all students.

AFC testified at a Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Behavioral Health System Planning Forum on the need for DOHMH to work with the DOE to improve the mental health system for New York City’s students so they can stay and succeed in school.