Hi Ashley, This year’s state budget was a missed opportunity. Despite the governor’s attempt to frame this budget as a win for families, the final outcome failed to protect New York’s children and the state’s safety net in the current federal environment. Instead of rising to meet the growing needs of New York students and families, Albany delivered watered-down reforms and last-minute deals. Key updates to the Foundation Aid formula left New York City and other districts shortchanged, and, while $400 million was secured for the Child Care Assistance Program, not a single dollar was dedicated to raising wages for early educators—many of whom are women of color sustaining this critical system.
This budget doesn’t reflect the urgency of the moment. Our students, families, and child care providers deserve bold, sustained investments—not crumbs. | See how the final budget stacks up - and what changed along the way. | | Taking a Stand on the Day Without Child Care | On Monday, May 13th, families, child care providers, and advocates across New York joined communities nationwide for the annual Day Without Child Care. This powerful day of action lifted up a simple, urgent truth: without child care, nothing works—not families, not schools, not the economy. | Here in New York, our partners like ECE on the Move and the Child Development Council helped us lead the call for change, joined by educators, parents, and advocates who refuse to let care work go unseen and unsupported. These providers are the backbone of our communities, and they are demanding what they have always deserved: dignity, respect, and real investment so they can keep investing in our children. | | New York Speaks: Listening Across the State | AQE’s New York Speaks tour is taking us from cities to small towns, listening to families share what they need - and what they’re not getting—from our education and child care systems. | Shinnecock Nation Tour Stop - April 25 | Rochester Tour Stop - May 16 | An unforgettable tour stop was with the Shinnecock Nation, where community members spoke about the urgent lack of access to early learning opportunities and care. Their stories echo what we’ve heard across the state: every child deserves to grow up in a community that invests in their potential. | | Take Action Now
Action 1: Support the Solutions Not Suspensions Act | End exclusionary discipline practices that disproportionately impact Black and Brown students. We need restorative solutions that support every child’s growth and success. We’re proud to be partnering with Broadway Advocacy Coalition again on this critical work.
Email and call your legislators now! | | Action 2—Invest in NYC Public Schools for the Long Term | Essential city initiatives like Student Success Centers, summer programming, and mental health supports still face an uncertain future this budget season.
Email city leaders urging them to fully fund and baseline these important programs so that students and families can count on the support they need. | Team AQE and the Circle Keepers, launching the Spill the Tea campaign outside Tweed Courthouse in NYC. | If you’re in New York City, upcoming local elections will shape the future of our schools and services. This is your moment to be heard. NYC uses ranked choice voting, so you can rank up to five candidates in order of your preference for city offices. Do not rank any candidate you strongly oppose, because ranking them at all could help them win. Make your plan now and vote for a future that reflects your values and the hopes you have for your community's future. | We’re thrilled that City & State named our Co-Executive Director Marina Marcou-O’Malley a Trailblazer for her fierce advocacy for students, high-need districts, and working families. It’s another reason to celebrate the impact of what we’re building together at AQE! | | Help Sustain This Movement | This work—building power, amplifying community voices, and pushing for justice—doesn’t happen without all of us. Your support makes it possible to organize, advocate, and hold leaders accountable. This year marks 25 years of AQE fighting for justice in public education and child care across New York State. For a quarter century, we’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with working families, educators, and advocates—and we’re just getting started! If you believe in a world where public education and child care are truly public, equitable, and just, we invite you to support our work. | Thank you for your deep commitment to building a stronger, more just public education and child care system for all of us. In solidarity, | Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari
Co-Executive Director, AQE | Marina Marcou-O'Malley
Co-Executive Director, AQE | |
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