Response to the Release of the 2026 New York State English Language Arts Test Scores - Advocates for Children of New York

Maria Odom, Executive Director of Advocates for Children of New York, issued the following statement in response to the release of the 2026 New York State English Language Arts (ELA) test scores for N...

advocatesforchildren.org

Tell Congress to Keep Special Education under the U.S. Department of Education

Email your representatives in Congress and tell them to support students with disabilities and oppose the plan to restructure the U.S. Department of Education. Special education programs are *educatio...

actionnetwork.org

Under new agreement, NYC schools to adopt systemwide rules to support school-avoidant students

After years of uneven responses to school-avoidant students, NYC will mandate school liaisons, staff training, and clearer rules to help students return to class.

bit.ly

NYC is bringing its most sought-after special education programs to preschool for the first time

Families of preschoolers with disabilities have long struggled to find classroom placements. Will a $67.5 million investment finally close the gap?

bit.ly

Mamdani expands key autism school programs to pre-K amid universal childcare push

nydailynews.com

NYC Foster Youth Need Better Access to School Buses, New Report Finds

A new report from Advocates for Children looked at chronic absenteeism among foster youth in New York City schools.

imprintnews.org

Protect Essential Education Programs

We are pleased that Mayor Mamdani’s Fiscal Year 2027 Preliminary Budget extends and provides long-term funding for two essential initiatives that had previously been funded only through this June — pr...

actionnetwork.org

Tell City Leaders: Make Sure Students in Foster Care Can Get to School

Children in foster care already face significant challenges, and having their education disrupted shouldn’t be one of them. Yet far too often, that’s exactly what happens. New York City is required b...

actionnetwork.org

Educational Indicators for Students in the Foster System, 2024–25 - Advocates for Children of New York

This brief highlights key educational indicators for the 6,650 New York City students who spent time in foster care during the 2024–25 school year. The data, which were obtained from New York City Pub...

advocatesforchildren.org

Trump Breaks Up Education Dept., Prompting Worries Over Civil Rights

Special education programs and the civil rights office will be moved out of the Education Department, the most aggressive move yet by the Trump administration to dismantle the agency.

nyti.ms

Civil rights enforcement, special education oversight will move out of education department

Advocates for students with disabilities fear that moving special education out of the U.S. Department of Education will undermine support for vulnerable students.

bit.ly

To tackle chronic absenteeism, NYC to require a ‘school avoidance liaison’ at every school

NYC is updating its attendance rules for the first time in nearly a decade. Under the proposal, every school must have a staffer supporting students dealing with school refusal.

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AFC & the ARISE Coalition Testify on the New York City FY 2027 Executive Budget - Advocates for Children of New York

Today, AFC and the ARISE Coalition (coordinated by AFC) are testifying before the New York City Council Committee on Finance regarding the Fiscal Year 2027 Executive Budget — Education.

advocatesforchildren.org

Report: Foster Kids in NY Schools More Likely to Be Suspended

Students in foster care are disproportionately suspended from school and have lower attendance, according to a report released Monday.

imprintnews.org

'People Are Still Very Unnerved': Advocates Ask City to Establish Protocols for ICE Sightings Near Schools - City Limits

Advocates and a Brooklyn City Council member are asking the city to create a set of guidelines for how schools should respond to the presence of ICE agents nearby, and to set up a system for alerting ...

citylimits.org

Half of New York teacher prep programs earn failing grades for reading instruction

The findings raise questions about whether teacher prep programs are keeping pace with the state’s science-of-reading push.

bit.ly

Applications are open for 2-K. Here’s what NYC families need to know.

Applications close June 26, and parents will get offers by Aug. 2. Most 2-K seats will be free 8 a.m.-6 p.m., year-round.

bit.ly

Boost in state funding for NYC schools to help growing population of homeless students

nydailynews.com

AFC Responds to Changes to the State Education Funding Formula - Advocates for Children of New York

Maria Odom, Executive Director of Advocates for Children of New York (AFC), issued the following statement in response to the changes to the Foundation Aid per-pupil funding formula in the FY 2027 New...

advocatesforchildren.org

NYC gets more funds for homeless, foster and English-learning students

The increase reflects additional funds for early childhood education, transportation and materials.

gothamist.com

NY budget deal would keep Mamdani in control of NYC schools — and boost funding for needy students

The budget deal extends Mamdani’s control of NYC schools for two years and directs more money for homeless students, English language learners, and children in foster care.

bit.ly

Travel training opens doors for New York City students with disabilities

Advocates say the city needs more funding for the program.

specne.ws