Newsroom

The Charter School Pressuring Teachers to Get Involved In Politics

Success Academy and other charter networks pressured teachers, parents, and students to attend a pro-charter rally in New York City, even requiring staff to prove they had lobbied elected officials. Educators described an atmosphere of coercion and intimidation, where opting out could jeopardize their jobs. AQE’s Co-Executive Director Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari underscored that forcing families into … Continue reading The Charter School Pressuring Teachers to Get Involved In Politics

Keep Our Kids In Their Classrooms, Not Out!

Too many students in New York are losing classroom time to suspensions that do little to address behavior and instead push young people further to the margins. These policies hit hardest on Black and Latinx students, immigrant youth, LGBTQIA+ students, and students with disabilities – feeding the school-to-prison pipeline and deepening inequities. The Judith S. … Continue reading Keep Our Kids In Their Classrooms, Not Out!

Policy to reduce suspensions for Buffalo’s youngest learners applauded by community advocates

Buffalo’s new suspension policy marks a major win for Black, brown, immigrant, disabled, and lower-income students, making it much harder to suspend children in pre-K through the third grade and requiring supportive interventions before suspension can even be considered. This change will help protect young learners from being pushed out of classrooms for developmentally normal … Continue reading Policy to reduce suspensions for Buffalo’s youngest learners applauded by community advocates

New Mexico is doing universal child care, when will New York?

ALBANY, N.Y. (September 9, 2025) — In response to New Mexico’s announcement that it will guarantee universal, no-cost child care for every family in the state, the public education advocacy organization Alliance for Quality Education released the following statement: “New Mexico has set a bold new standard for the nation by guaranteeing universal, no-cost child care … Continue reading New Mexico is doing universal child care, when will New York?

As students head back to class, Congress is planning $12B in cuts

This week, families are sending their kids back to school filled with excitement, and educators open their doors ready to nurture and inspire. But that hope, in the promise of a supportive and well-resourced classroom, is now under attack. The House is pushing to cut over $12B from K-12 public schools, threatening a massive loss that … Continue reading As students head back to class, Congress is planning $12B in cuts

From $24,000 to $147,000: How Much Daycare Costs Across America

This analysis out of the Wall Street Journal maps out how the cost of child care varies dramatically across the U.S., with the median cost of five years of child care totaling around $44,000, while going well above $100,000 in some. The piece highlights how these rising costs are straining working families. Read the full … Continue reading From $24,000 to $147,000: How Much Daycare Costs Across America

What Is Mamdani’s Vision for New York City’s $40 Billion School System?

In a recent New York Times article, Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari, AQE’s Co-Executive Director, expressed support for rising calls to make New York’s public school system more democratic, even if the path forward remains unclear. She pointed to the ongoing transition to a fully elected school board in Chicago as a hopeful model, saying, “We all know … Continue reading What Is Mamdani’s Vision for New York City’s $40 Billion School System?

Fewer Black and Latino students win offers to attend specialized high schools

New admissions data released late last Thursday, July 31, shows that New York City’s specialized high schools continue to enroll disproportionately few Black and Latino students, deepening concerns about segregation. Advocates called the worsening numbers a reflection of the city’s lack of commitment to addressing school segregation and urged serious, systemic action. Despite past criticism … Continue reading Fewer Black and Latino students win offers to attend specialized high schools

NYC’s highly anticipated high school admissions data faces lengthy delay

New York City’s Education Department is facing criticism for delaying the release of high school admissions data, breaking a decade-long practice of sharing it by mid-June. The data, especially for the city’s elite but highly segregated specialized high schools, often sparks public debate. Advocates and former officials have questioned the delay, with some suspecting political … Continue reading NYC’s highly anticipated high school admissions data faces lengthy delay

AQE Responds to Anti-Blackness Across Borders: A Fast for Gaza and Global Justice

In response to the unfolding famine in Gaza and the genocides devastating Black and oppressed communities around the world, AQE will observe fast tomorrow, Wednesday, July 30. This fast will be a rejection of the excesses that so often coexist alongside genocide, and a refusal to accept the suffering that their continuation demands. In a … Continue reading AQE Responds to Anti-Blackness Across Borders: A Fast for Gaza and Global Justice