|
What do you do when you've approached the teacher, principal, Department of Education offices, state officials, and STILL feel like you haven't received a satisfactory resolution? Whether your concern is a specific incident that involved your child or a broader issue, such as perceived bias towards a group of students or unsound educational practices, there are other options you can pursue.
On this page: Community groups | City and statewide organizations | Your elected officials | Legal services
The groups listed here help parents organize for change in their children's schools. They also may might serve as allies or resources for parents who are unable to resolve an issue with the DOE.
|
MANHATTAN
|
|
|
ACORN
310 Walton Avenue
Bronx, NY 10451
(718) 292-0070
Area Covered: Bronx, Manhattan, Queens
|
Grand Street Settlement
145 Stanton Street, Room 137
New York, NY 10002
(212) 505-6338
Area Covered: Lower Manhattan
|
|
Mental Health Association of New York
Manhattan Parent Resource Centers
50 Broadway, 19th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Tel: (212) 964-5253
|
UFT Parent Outreach Committee
Manhattan contact: Teresa Anderson
TAndersen@uft.org
|
|
BRONX
|
|
|
ACORN - South Bronx
310 Walton Avenue
Bronx, NY 10451
(718) 292-0070
Area Covered: Bronx, Manhattan, Queens
|
Highbridge Community Life Center
979 Ogden Avenue
Bronx, NY 10452
(718) 681-2222
|
|
Mothers on the Move
928 Intervale Avenue
Bronx, NY 10459
(718) 842-2224
Area Covered: School Districts 7, 8, and 12
|
Mid-Bronx Senior Citizens' Council
Neighborhood Partners Initiative
900 Grand Councourse
Bronx, NY 10451
(718) 588-8200
|
|
Mental Health Association of New York
Bronx Parent Resource Centers
Tel: (718) 220-0456
Tel: (718) 292-8310 (south)
Tel: (718) 369-3854 (west)
|
UFT Parent Outreach Committee
Bronx contact: Hector M. Ruiz
Hruiz@uft.org
|
|
BROOKLYN
|
|
|
Central Brooklyn Churches
140 Devoe Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 302-9840
Area Covered: School Districts 13 and 16
|
Brooklyn Congregations United
890 Flatbush Avenue (corner of Flatbush and Church)
Brooklyn, NY 11226
(718) 287-4334
Area Covered: School Districts 17 and 22
|
|
Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation
3214 Fulton Street
Brooklyn, NY 11208
(718) 647-8100
Area Covered: School District 19
|
Make the Road New York
301 Grove Street
Brooklyn, NY 11237
(718) 418-7690
|
|
UFT Parent Community Outreach Committee
Brooklyn contact: Betty Zohar
(718) 722-6960
|
ACORN - Brooklyn
2-4 Nevins Street, 2nd floor
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Tel: (718) 246-7900
Fax: (718) 246-7939
|
|
QUEENS
|
|
|
Queensbridge Community in Action
38-81 13th Street
Long Island City, NY 11101
(718) 784-3200
Area Covered: School District 30
|
ACORN
310 Walton Avenue
Bronx, NY 10451
(718) 292-0070
Area Covered: Bronx, Manhattan, Queens
|
|
Mental Health Association of New York
Queens Parent Resource Centers
8708 Justice Ave. Rm. C-14
Elmurst, NY 11373
Tel: (718) 651-1960
|
Make the Road New York
Woodside: (718) 565-8500
Jackson Heights: (718) 565-8103
Central office (in Brooklyn): (718) 418-7690 |
|
UFT Parent Outreach Committee
Queens contact: Rose Walker-Yates
rwalker@uft.org
|
|
|
STATEN ISLAND
|
|
Make the Road New York
479 Port Richmond Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10302
(718) 727-1222 |
UFT Parent Outreach Committee
Staten Island contact: Joan McKeever-Thomas
jmckt@uft.org |
BACK TO TOP
Many community groups in New York organize together to fight for greater city and state-wide change. Alliance for Quality Education is a state-wide umbrella of community groups and labor unions that advocate for greater funding for public education. Another collaborative effort is Class Size Matters, which, as the name suggests, campaigns for smaller numbers of students in the classrooms. The New York State Parental and Information Resource Center (PIRC) works to strengthen partnerships between parents and schools to improve student achievement, to help parents understand their rights, and to demonstrate ways parents can support learning at home.
If you don't get a satisfactory solution to your problem from the school officials, you may need to go to outside sources of help. One good bet is to contact your local elected representative. Your city council member has a walk-in office in your neighborhood that offers information and direct service to local residents. The borough presidents' staff also helps constituents solve problems. Both are a particularly good source of help with traffic and safety problems as well as other school-related issues. To find the name and address of your local officials, see the City of New York website or call the League of Women Voters Telephone Information Service at (212) 213-5286.
BACK TO TOP
If you have exhausted all of the other avenues— including those listed above—you may wish to seek legal advice. Remember, legal agencies often have strict guidelines regarding income, complaint, or even your location, before they will provide you with legal services.
|
Advocates for Children
151 West 30th Street 5th Floor
New York, NY 10001
Tel. (866) 427-6033
(Mondays - Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
Legal Aid Society Headquarters
199 Water Street
New York, NY 10038
Tel: (212) 577-3300
Fax: (212) 509-8761
Partnership for Children's Rights
271 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
Tel. (212) 683-7999
Legal Services of New York (main office)
Tel. (212) 431-7200
Legal Services of New York (Bronx)
579 Courtlandt Ave
Bronx, NY 10451
Tel: (718) 928-3700
Fax:(718) 401-7097
www.lsny.org
Legal Services of New York (Brooklyn)
180 Livingston Street, Room 302
Tel. (718) 852-8888
New York Legal Assistance Group
450 West 33rd Street
New York, NY 10022-1302
Tel. (212) 613-5000
|
New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, Inc.
151 West 30th Street 11th Floor
New York, NY 10001
Tel. (212) 244-4664
Queens Legal Services
42-15 Crescent Street
Long Island City, NY 11101
Tel. (718) 392-5646
Resources for Children with Special Needs
116 East 16th Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10003
Tel. (212) 677-4650
Sinergia/Metropolitan Parent Center
134 West 29th Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10001
Tel: (212) 643-2840
Toll free: (866) 867-9665
Fax: (212) 643-2871
South Brooklyn Legal Services
105 Court Street 3rd Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 246-3273
Wrightslaw: The Special Education Advocate and Lawhelp.org offer legal information as well.
|
BACK TO TOP
Last updated on 05/22/2009
|
|
|
More
See all events
