AQE
Founded only in 2000, the Alliance for Quality Education (AQE) has quickly become New York state’s lead community-based organization in the fight for high quality public education. A statewide non-profit, AQE unites a coalition of over 230 organizations of parents, children's advocates, schools, teachers, clergy, and others.
AQE believes it will take fair funding and smarter spending to support better schools and give every child in New York State a quality education from pre-K to high school graduation. Truly statewide, AQE has active community-based education coalitions in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, the Capital District (Albany), New York City and Long Island.
Working with all stakeholders, but emphasizing the involvement of parents and youth, AQE combines leadership development, community organizing, electronic activism, extensive media relations, policy work, and lobbying within a cohesive campaign for fundamental education reform. This recipe has successfully made adequate funding to create quality schools for every child a high profile issue throughout the state.
Our Staff
Dedicating our efforts to ensuring a quality education for EVERY New York State public school student the team is stationed throughout the state. AQE has regional offices in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, New York City and Long Island. Please contact the office closest to you for information on how YOU can get involved.
Cynthia Nixon, an award winning television and Broadway actress, is a New York City public school parent who is actively involved in the fight for fair school funding. Since her daughter started Kindergarten in 2001, Nixon has been an active spokesperson in the campaign to get more funding for our public schools. Ms. Nixon is a parent of two children, a daughter and a son. "As a mother of two children it is very important to me that our schools help all kids reach their potential. Ensuring access to meaningful educational opportunities for all kids is the most important issue facing city and state leaders. Our elected leaders need to stand up for our kids and provide the additional school funding required by the CFE court decision. Each day they stall, our children suffer; they don’t get the help and support they need to achieve because of large class sizes, they don’t get pre-kindergarten and they start school behind, they don’t have quality after school programs to help them catch up. Every child deserves a meaningful education. I will continue to fight for my daughter and my son and all the kids who are currently being shortchanged.”
Billy Easton, Executive Director
94 Central Avenue, Albany, NY 12206
518-432-5315p
518-427-2979f
Nikki Jones, Communications Coordinator
94 Central Avenue, Albany, NY 12206
518-432-5315 ext 605p
518-427-2979f
Marina Marcou-O'Malley, Policy Analyst
94 Central Avenue, Albany, NY 12206
518-432-5315 ext 604p
518-427-2979f
Sumaya Saati, Policy Analyst
94 Central Avenue, Albany, NY 12206
518-432-5315 ext 603p
518-427-2979f
Chy'nel Lee, Organizer
739 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203
716-855-1522p
716-855-1521f
Tanika Jones, Lead Organizer
2013 E. Genesee Street, Syracuse, NY 13210
315-435-2480p
315-435-2481f
Shana Marks-Odinga, Organizer
2-4 Nevins Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217
718-222-1089p ext 276p
Zakiyah Ansari, Organizer
233 Broadway, Suite. 720, New York, NY 10279
212 328 9266p
Danielle Asher, Organizer
90 Pennsylvania, Massapequa, NY 11758
516-541-1006p
516-541-2113f
Our Spokesperson Cynthia Nixon
-Cynthia Nixon
