Early intervention services for young children boost later test scores A first-of-its-kind study has found that early intervention services — which can include occupational, physical and speech therapies, among others — improve children’s test scores, even years down the road. The study, conducted jointly by researchers at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the New York City Health Department, showed that children who received the services between birth and age 3 outperformed similar peers on third grade reading and math tests. Early intervention services are intended for children with disabilities, developmental delays or those who are at risk of them, such as children who are born severely premature.

A first-of-its-kind study has found that occupational, physical and speech therapies, among others — improve children’s test scores in third grade.

Hochul moves to protect undocumented students’ right to schooling as national challenges mount The move comes as other states are trying to chip away at the longstanding legal precedent that undocumented students can attend public schools for free.

The move comes as other states are trying to chip away at the longstanding legal precedent that undocumented students can attend public schools for free.

This illustrates why we're asking @mayor.nyc.gov to launch an interagency initiative that breaks down bureaucratic silos & tackles educational barriers facing students who are homeless. School stability should be a required planning factor when considering shelter conversions—not an afterthought. ⬇️

Tell State Leaders: Invest in Early Intervention in this Year’s Budget Early Intervention works. A recent study of New York’s Early Intervention (EI) program found that children who received EI services were more likely to meet academic standards in the third grade. But ...

Early Intervention works—but only if children receive their mandated services. Join us in asking State leaders to include $ in the final budget to help address provider shortages that leave infants & toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities waiting for the critical services they need.

63% of NYC homeless students were chronically absent from school last year, new report says A new report is detailing just how much homelessness in New York City is negatively impacting students.

“On average, a homeless child goes to two to three schools a year. The school they'll start in, the school where the shelter is, and then the school where their permanent home is. That also creates absenteeism.”

Report Finds Homeless Students Miss More School, And What Else Happened This Week in Housing - City Limits More than half of students living in the shelter system were chronically absent last year, meaning they missed one in every 10 school days.

More than half of students living in the NYC shelter system were chronically absent last year, meaning they missed one in every 10 school days, an analysis from @afcnewyork.bsky.social found—prompting calls for the city and state to step up support. citylimits.org/report-finds...

NYC homeless students not getting enough school aid, advocates say

NYC homeless students not getting enough school aid, advocates say

Tell State Leaders: Fully Fund and Update the NYS Education Funding Formula in this Year’s Budget Email Governor Hochul and state legislators and tell them the final FY 2027 budget should fully fund the Foundation Aid formula and make important updates to improve the formula itself, including addi...

📢 Take action today! Governor Hochul & state legislators are still negotiating the final FY 2027 budget. Tell them to include key updates to the NYS education funding formula, including adding a weight for students in temporary housing or foster care.

NYC public school suspensions dropped substantially during the first half of the school year Suspensions have slid significantly across the nation’s largest school system, dropping below pre-pandemic levels.

Suspensions have slid significantly across the nation’s largest school system, dropping below pre-pandemic levels.

Data shows roughly 154,000 students in the New York City's public schools during the 2024-2025 academic year were homeless: gothamist.visitlink.me/XkWQb2

Effects of homelessness on city students Advocates for Children of New York's Jennifer Pringle spoke with "News All Day."

Yesterday, AFC Project Director Jennifer Pringle joined @spectrumnewsny1.bsky.social to talk about our new report on students experiencing homelessness — and what City and State leaders can do to ensure these students get the support they need and deserve. Watch >>

63% of NYC homeless students were chronically absent from school last year, new report says A new report is detailing just how much homelessness in New York City is negatively impacting students.

Most of New York City's 154,000 homeless students struggled with chronic absenteeism last year, a new report says. Marcia Kramer reports.

Report: Absenteeism, lagging test scores, school transfers soar for homeless NYC students Advocates for Children found that more than 154,000 public school students were homeless last year.

At the City level, we urge @mayor.nyc.gov to launch a bold interagency initiative to break down bureaucratic silos & tackle the educational barriers students who are homeless face. @nycschools.bsky.social can't address the underlying structural issues impacting this population on its own.

As homelessness rises among NYC kids, report finds most struggle to make it to school An advocacy group found 49% of students whose families lived in temporary housing with other family members or friends missed at least one out of every 10 school days last year.

As homelessness rises among NYC kids, report finds most struggle to make it to school gothamist.com/news/as-home...

NYC’s homeless students continue to struggle at school. Advocates want more funding and coordination. Many students in shelters routinely face long commutes, transportation delays, and frequent moves during the school year.

Many students in shelters routinely face long commutes, transportation delays, and frequent moves during the school year.

“It is long past time for the State to update its education funding formula to recognize the significant needs of students who are homeless. As Governor Hochul and the Legislature negotiate a final budget, they must ensure that the Foundation Aid formula does not continue to shortchange districts like New York City that have high rates of student homelessness.”—Maria Odom, Executive Director of AFC

One immediate step @governor.ny.gov @nysendems.bsky.social @nyassemblymajority.bsky.social can take: update the Foundation Aid formula in the final FY2027 State budget to add a weight for students who are homeless or in foster care, as both the Assembly & Senate have already proposed.

Only 33% of students who were homeless scored proficient on the 2025 ELA exam for grades 3–8, compared to 60% of their permanently housed peers—a gap even wider than the one seen in 2024.

1 in 5 students in shelter—12,000 children—changed schools at least once last school year, meaning they lost not just a place to call home, but also the stability of a familiar school environment, teachers, and friends.

Nearly half of all students in temporary housing & 63% of those in shelter were chronically absent last year, meaning they missed at least 1 in 10 school days. That adds up to a staggering 1.1 million days of lost instructional time, at minimum.

Educational Indicators for Students Experiencing Homelessness, 2024–25 - Advocates for Children of New York This brief summarizes data on a subset of the more than 154,000 New York City students who were identified as homeless during the 2024–25 school year. The data, which were obtained from New York City ...

Today we released a report with data underscoring the need for City & State leaders to do more to ensure the 150K @nycschools.bsky.social students experiencing homelessness can access a quality education and receive the support they need to succeed in school.

Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorders and Education - Advocates for Children of New York Covers the diagnosis of autism; Early Intervention services, preschool special education, and school-age special education for children with autism; instructional practices and additional support serv...

Our guide can help you learn more about the options available for Autistic students in @nycschools.bsky.social, and how you can advocate effectively for your rights in and out of the classroom advocatesforchildren.org/resource/gui...

An infinity symbol on a rainbow background with text that reads “April is Autism Acceptance Month”

#AutismAcceptanceMonth begins today, an opportunity to recognize and honor our Autistic peers and to celebrate the power of neurodivergence. We continue to advocate for the resources, support, and opportunities Autistic students need to thrive in school and beyond.

Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorders and Education - Advocates for Children of New York Covers the diagnosis of autism; Early Intervention services, preschool special education, and school-age special education for children with autism; instructional practices and additional support serv...

Our guide can help you learn more about the options available for Autistic students in @nycspeakeradams.bsky.social, and how you can advocate effectively for your rights in and out of the classroom advocatesforchildren.org/resource/gui...

Looking forward to participating in next Friday's #NYCReadsTogether Literacy Ecosystem Summit! For those interested in deepening NYC's commitment to a shared strategy for literacy that supports ALL students and families, there's still time to register: cprl.law.columbia.edu/node/334

Mamdani’s budget includes millions for class size reduction, but other programs left out Mamdani’s preliminary budget adds hundreds of millions to meet a state class size mandate, but leaves out several education programs for vulnerable students

Mamdani’s preliminary budget adds hundreds of millions to meet a state class size mandate, but leaves out several education programs for vulnerable students

AFC Responds to the Release of the New York City FY 2027 Preliminary Budget - Advocates for Children of New York In response to the release of Mayor Mamdani’s Preliminary Budget for Fiscal Year 2027, Maria Odom, Executive Director of Advocates for Children of New York, issued the following statement.

We're pleased @mayor.nyc.gov's preliminary budget baselines last year’s $70M investment in preschool special education. The Mayor & @council.nyc.gov must also ensure students don't lose access to other impactful education programs funded with city dollars that will run out in June. Full statement:

Education experts push more updates to school aid formula They insist those tweaks are crucial for school districts to be able to support a wide array of needs.

Thank you @shelleybmayer.bsky.social for pushing for important changes to the Foundation Aid formula to help reflect the needs of students, including students who are homeless who currently get no added funding through the formula. spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-...

AFC Testifies on the FY 2027 State Education Budget Proposal - Advocates for Children of New York Today, AFC is testifying at the Joint Legislative Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2027 Executive Budget Proposal for Elementary and Secondary Education.

Today, we're testifying at the NYS education budget hearing calling on Governor Hochul and the NYS Legislature to make long overdue updates to the Foundation Aid education funding formula and not to shortchange NYC students. Read our testimony: advocatesforchildren.org/policy-resou...

New York City Public Schools NYC Department of Education, serving 1.1 million students in over 1,800 schools

Due to inclement weather, @nycschools.bsky.social are CLOSED on Monday, Jan 26. School will be held remotely for students scheduled to attend that day. For updates and details, visit schools.nyc.gov.

Mayoral control, 2-care, and more: What Hochul’s budget proposal means for NYC schools Gov. Hochul’s budget adds funding for schools and child care — but advocates say big flaws with the funding formula remain.

Gov. Hochul’s budget adds funding for schools and child care — but advocates say big flaws with the funding formula remain.