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Statement on Governor Hochul’s Historic Universal Child Care Announcement

New York, NY (January 8, 2026) – Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari, co-executive director of the Alliance for Quality Education, issued the following statement in response to Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani’s announcement of a plan to implement universal child care in New York. “This proposal is an enormous and welcome first step toward building a truly universal, … Continue reading Statement on Governor Hochul’s Historic Universal Child Care Announcement

Group of 40+ Organizations Releases Transition Memo Urging Action Toward Universal Child Care in New York City

New York, NY (December 11, 2025)  — More than 40 organizations and coalitions released a transition memo outlining a targeted plan to help the incoming Mamdani administration deliver on its commitment to make New York City more affordable, beginning with universal child care. The transition memo is intended to serve as a roadmap for the … Continue reading Group of 40+ Organizations Releases Transition Memo Urging Action Toward Universal Child Care in New York City

AQE Supports Seneca Nation Plan and Calls for Governor Hochul’s Signature

In response to the Seneca Nation’s warning that unclear New York laws are allowing outside drug traffickers to exploit jurisdictional gaps and put the community at risk, the public education advocacy organization Alliance for Quality Education released the following statement: “Governor Hochul must sign S.8127 / A.8289, which clarifies how law enforcement authority functions on … Continue reading AQE Supports Seneca Nation Plan and Calls for Governor Hochul’s Signature

Do you want child care for all?

We rallied on the steps of New York City Hall this past week to celebrate the release of a major new roadmap from the Empire State Campaign for Child Care, the statewide coalition of parents, child care educators, and advocates committed to building high-quality, universal child care for all New Yorkers. Families, educators, and community members … Continue reading Do you want child care for all?

As Mamdani looks to build free child care, UPK offers lessons on speed vs. stability

As Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani plans his rollout of universal child care, his team is studying both the successes and shortcomings of New York City’s earlier universal pre-K expansion to make sure families’ needs and provider perspectives are included. Advocates and experts alike emphasize that building a truly universal system will require centering families’ choices and … Continue reading As Mamdani looks to build free child care, UPK offers lessons on speed vs. stability

Breaking the mayor’s monopoly: Can Zohran Mamdani make co-governance work for New York’s schools?

Zohran Mamdani is calling for a new approach to how New York City’s public schools are governed, challenging the decades-old system of mayoral control that concentrates power in City Hall. Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari, co-executive director of AQE, said the current structure was built to consolidate authority and that now is the moment to build something more … Continue reading Breaking the mayor’s monopoly: Can Zohran Mamdani make co-governance work for New York’s schools?