Advocates for Children of New York works on behalf of children who are at greatest risk for school-based discrimination and/or academic failure due to poverty, disability, race, ethnicity, immigrant or English Language Learner status, sexual orientation, gender identity, homelessness, or involvement in the foster care or juvenile justice systems.
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Spotlight
Complaint Filed Against Success Academy Charter Schools and NYC DOE for Failure to Uphold Rights of Students with Disabilities
11.29.2018 | Today, Advocates for Children of New York along with co-counsel Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP filed a complaint with the New York State Education Department against Success Academy Charter Schools and the New York City Department of Education (“DOE”) for failing to comply with civil rights laws protecting students with... Read more
AFC Calls for Busing for Students in Foster Care
11.02.2018 | Today, Advocates for Children, along with more than 30 other organizations, sent a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio calling on him to provide busing for kindergarten through sixth grade students in foster care. For students who have been separated from their families, school has the potential to be an important stabilizing factor in... Read more
NYC DOE Special Education Data Release Shows Need for Better Service Delivery and Better Data System
11.02.2018 | Today, Kim Sweet, Executive Director of Advocates for Children of New York (AFC), issued the following statement in response to the New York City Department of Education’s annual report of information regarding students receiving special education services pursuant to Local Law 27 of 2015:The data released today showcase the need for... Read more
AFC’s Response to Proposed Increased Investment in School Accessibility
11.01.2018 | Today, Kim Sweet, Executive Director of Advocates for Children of New York (AFC), issued the following statement in response to the release of the New York City Department of Education’s proposed FY 2020-2024 Five-Year Capital Plan:We called for a major investment in school accessibility, and this Administration listened. The... Read more
AFC in the News
Kids with disabilities will get first shot at accessible schools
12.06.2018 | New York Daily News | Advocates for Children Executive Director Kim Sweet said the new enrollment rule will improve kids’ lives. “This change in policy should make a world of difference for students with physical accessibility needs who have historically found it nearly impossible to make the same use of NYC’s school choice system as... Read more
NYC kids with disabilities shortchanged by Success Academy charters: complaint
11.29.2018 | New York Daily News | The complaint, filed by non-profit Advocates for Children, claims Success officials changed special education placements of students with disabilities against regulations and refused to comply with administrative hearing orders in special education cases. “Students with disabilities do not give up their civil... Read more
Success Academy illegally changes special education services without parent input, complaint claims
11.29.2018 | Chalkbeat New York | The complaint, filed with the state’s education department, alleges a pattern of school officials unilaterally changing special education placements without holding meetings with parents, moving students to lower grade levels, and even ignoring hearing officers’ rulings. In some cases, students were removed from... Read more
Opinion: End the School Bus Nightmares for New York Families
11.14.2018 | New York Times | The problems with busing run deep and require bold action. As the city revamps school transportation, it must build a system that works for the students and families it is intended to serve. Read the op-ed by AFC Executive Director Kim Sweet. Read more