CACF’s Education Policy Brief 2018

Overemphasizing a Test, Oversimplifying Our Children: An APA Perspective on Specialized High School Reform towards Educational Equity

New York City is one of the most segregated school systems in the United States. The specialized high schools themselves, though a small percentage of the public schools, reflect the gross lack of diversity, inequity, and inclusion in the larger system. The Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT) as the single measure of admissions is unfair and a barrier to diversity in these schools.

Therefore, CACF believes in eliminating the SHSAT or any single test as the sole measure for admission to the specialized high schools in favor of adopting a multiple measures policy. In addition to these reforms, we also offer several recommendations on how the City and the Department of Education can better promote diversity and inclusion in the school system and ensure all students have equitable access to a high quality education.

As the nation’s only pan-Asian policy advocacy organization, CACF has a responsibility to the APA community to advocate for educational policies that benefit all APA students, including and especially those most marginalized. This responsibility is critical as APAs continue to be left out of educational reform efforts and policy decisions, further perpetuating the harmful effects of the model minority myth. With this brief, we hope to highlight the important role the APA community plays in the broader fight for educational equity.

 

Download full brief here.

Download press release here.

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CALL FOR UNITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL COMMUNITIES OF COLOR

The Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC), CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities, the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF), and the undersigned organizations call for unity and condemn the violence that occurred on Friday at New Red Apple Nails in Brooklyn and the unrelated vandalism that happened to small businesses in South Brooklyn. As organizations that serve and advocate for the Asian American community of New York, it is our responsibility to call out and stand against anti-immigrant rhetoric and anti-Blackness and work with other communities of color toward racial justice.

Please read full statement here.

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Asian Pacific American Organizations Respond

to NYC SHSAT Reform

Please read the response developed with community based organizations in the Asian Pacific American community that puts forward our common values and beliefs in education:

1. Diverse and inclusive school environments are beneficial to all students.
2. The NYC Department of Education (DOE) needs to address inequities in education across Pre-K through 12th grade and examine current processes and admission policies. 
3. No family or parent from any community should be shamed in discussions around education and schooling.  
4. Families need more easily accessible information to be better informed about the full variety of opportunities for their children’s schooling at all levels. 
5. ALL children have the potential to succeed and excel in schools when given the right support and environment because no student goes to school wanting to fail. 
6. ALL communities should be involved in constructive dialogue, especially when critical decisions are being made about schools, not just certain communities.

Please read the full response here. Any questions, please contact Tasfia Rahman, Policy Coordinator.

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New York City Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Analysis

The Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF) is pleased to announce that discretionary funds allocated to Asian Pacific American-led organizations by the New York City Council for Fiscal Year 2019 increased by a little over $200,000 as compared to FY 2018, with a total of $2,426,240 for FY 2019. The highest total discretionary award received by an APA-led organization was $269,000, an increase of $11,000 compared to FY 2018. Total discretionary awards made to APA-led organizations increased by 1.00%, bringing the percent of total discretionary funding to APA-led organizations up to 5.06% for FY 2019. Specifically, Manhattan and Staten Island saw an increase in percent of total discretionary funding given to APA-led organizations. However, it is important to note that, without including speaker funding, 30 Council districts individually gave less than FY2018 of total discretionary funding.

To view full report: FY 2019 Schedule C Funding Report

To view press release: FY 2019 Schedule C Press Release

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APA Social Justice Institute
Spring 2018 Cohort – A Case for a Cause

A Case for a Cause: Connecting Service to Social Justice is open to community-based organization staff who work with children and/or youth and are interested in making deeper connections to APA community issues in New York City. Participants will conceptualize and connect with various community needs and larger social change efforts, locally and nationally, for our diverse APA communities. We are excited to invest in the collective power of our organizational members. We are excited with our inaugural cohort.

The Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF) aims to improve the economic security and well-being of Asian Pacific American children and families in New York City.