AFC MILESTONE
Celebrating 50 Years of Advocacy
|
|
This year, AFC is celebrating half a century of advocacy on behalf of NYC students and their families. Each month, we’ve been taking a look back at different areas of our work over the years, and the vast community that has made it possible. Want to learn more about our work through the decades? Find past issues, along with an interactive timeline celebrating highlights from our 50 years of advocacy, on our website.
|
|
SPOTLIGHT ON FAMILIES
Caleb & Chrystal's Story
|
|
Seven months into the pandemic, Chrystal Bell called AFC’s Helpline. Her son Caleb's multiple disabilities had made it impossible for him to participate in any remote learning for the last half of the year. Chrystal wanted to know what her options were.
|
|
GET HELP
If your child is struggling in school, reach out to us today.
Call AFC's Education Helpline, open Monday-Thursday from 10am-4pm.
|
|
POLICY ROADMAP
AFC'S Policy Agenda for NYC Schools
|
|
NYC has a new mayoral administration, a brand-new City Council, and an unprecedented amount of federal funding for education: right now, we have a real opportunity to create meaningful change for NYC students and their families. AFC has shared our advocacy priorities for this year’s City budget, as well as our Recommendations for the Next Administration, highlighting some of the most pressing challenges in public education — including those that pre-date COVID — where the City must focus attention, energy, and resources.
|
|
REACHING EVERY READER
A New Vision for NYC Schools
|
|
This Winter, AFC, the DOE, and the ARISE Coalition jointly hosted a Literacy Summit to build a shared vision for universal literacy in NYC schools. Literacy is the foundation for all future learning and essential for full participation in civic life, yet more NYC students are reading below a basic level than are reading proficiently, and disparities by race, disability, language, and housing status are alarming. The December Literacy Summit convened hundreds of educators, parents, researchers, policy makers, and others to begin working towards a new vision for NYC reading instruction. Missed the Summit? Video from all of the excellent panels is now available online.
|
|
POLICY CORNER
Not Yet For All: A Closer Look at 'Universal' Pre-K
|
|
Last year, more than a third of NYC preschoolers with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) did not receive their legally mandated services. Our January 2022 report, Not Yet for All: How the Next Administration Can Make Preschool Truly Universal, shows how preschool students with disabilities have been left behind by the City’s 3-K and Pre-K for All programs, and are being denied access to special education programs and services to which they have a legal right, and how Mayor Adams can take immediate action to make sure there is a preschool special education class for every child who needs one, and that every 3-K and pre-K student gets needed services on site.
|
|
NEW AFC RESOURCE
Reaching Multilingual NYC Families
|
|
Approximately 40% of NYC public school families speak a language other than English at home. Thanks to our successful advocacy last year with a coalition of our partners, the City has invested an historic $4 million in “Language Access for All” to support outreach, engagement and communication with multilingual families across NYC, strengthening the school system's ability to deliver resources to all families in a language that’s accessible for them.
The DOE is also expanding its Translation and Interpretation Unit in order to translate Individualized Education Programs (IEP) and certain other special education documents for every family in their preferred language. AFC has created a new tip sheet, available in 10 languages, outlining parents’ right to receive special education information in their language. The tip sheet includes step-by-step directions for requesting written translations of IEPs, evaluations, 504 information, and other special education documents.
|
|
IN THE NEWS
AFC's Recent Headlines
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
