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
AFC Opposes Any Waivers to the IDEA or the Rehabilitation Act
04.03.2020 | Advocates for Children of New York wrote to U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos indicating our strong opposition to any waivers to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. While the current public health... Continue reading
AFC Calls for Access to Regional Enrichment Centers for Students who are Homeless
03.20.2020 | Today, Advocates for Children joined 11 other organizations in calling on Chancellor Carranza to ensure that students who are homeless have access to the Regional Enrichment Centers when they open next week. While we do not question the decision to close schools in light of the current public health emergency, we are deeply concerned... Continue reading
AFC Calls for Transportation for Students in Foster Care
03.09.2020 | Today, Advocates for Children joined 18 organizations committed to school stability and educational success for students in foster care in a joint statement in response to an ACS draft policy. The letter urges the City to guarantee busing or other comparable transportation for students in foster care who need it to remain in their... Continue reading
AFC Executive Director Kim Sweet Recognized as One of the 100 Most Powerful Education Leaders in New York
02.16.2020 | City & State magazine recognized Kim Sweet, AFC's Executive Director, as one of the 100 most powerful education leaders in New York. Kim has made a career out of bringing parents and policymakers together to make New York City a safer, more nurturing place for students with disabilities. She spearheaded special education advocacy... Continue reading
AFC in the News
Advocacy groups urge NYC Education Dept. to include homeless students in childcare at ‘resource centers’
03.20.2020 | NY Daily News | “Every day that goes by where children are not receiving educational services is an opportunity missed,” said Randi Levine, policy director for Advocates for Children. “We are very worried about children who are homeless falling further behind.” Read article Continue reading
Here’s the latest on NYC’s child care centers, opening Monday amid a citywide school shutdown due to coronavirus
03.20.2020 | Chalkbeat NY | About a dozen advocacy groups sent the chancellor a letter on Friday calling on the city to allow those children to be cared for at the centers. “Picture a parent of children at multiple grade levels spending their time in a hotel room. That’s not an appropriate space for learning,” said Randi Levine, policy director at... Continue reading
NYC special ed 'crisis' draws attention of state education officials
03.02.2020 | Politico NY | “I think that every step in the process is really broken and as a result the backlog has kind of snowballed into itself,” said Rebecca Shore, director of litigation at Advocates for Children of New York, a nonprofit legal and advocacy organization. At least two federal lawsuits have been filed in recent months... Continue reading
Manhattan school installs free laundry to aid homeless students
02.27.2020 | ABC 7 | A recent report by Advocates for Children of New York identified over 114,000 students were homeless in New York City during the 2018-2019, and officials at PS 132 in Washington Heights say nearly one quarter of its students are currently living in shelters or overcrowded homes. To aid students, the elementary school... Continue reading