Student Advocacy Inc

STUDENT ADVOCACY'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE VOICE FOR FAMILIES WITH STUDENTS WHO ARE EDUCATIONALLY AT RISK, AND TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS RECEIVE THE EDUCATION TO WHICH THEY ARE LEGALLY ENTITLED AND WHICH ENABLES THEM TO SUCCEED. STUDENT ADVOCACY ENSURES AN EDUCATION TO ENHANCE A LIFE.

PROGRAM WIDE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: STUDENT ADVOCACY PROVIDED LEGALLY BASED EDUCATION ADVOCACY FOR 475 YOUTH, AGES 3 TO 19, WITH DISABILITIES IN WESTCHESTER AND PUTNAM COUNTIES BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2021, AND DECEMBER 31, 2021. AMONG THE 451 CLOSED MATTERS IN THE 2021 CALENDAR YEAR STUDENT ADVOCACY SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR IMPROVED EDUCATION SERVICES IN 86% OF CASES. 80% OF CLIENTS RECEIVING SERVICES FROM STUDENT ADVOCACY ATTEND SCHOOLS IN DISTRICTS WHERE 50% OR MORE OF THE STUDENT POPULATION IS IDENTIFIED AS ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED. THE ORGANIZATION SERVES FAMILIES MOST IN NEED AND WHO WITHOUT OUR ASSISTANCE WOULD BE UNABLE TO ACCESS THE EDUCATION SERVICES TO WHICH THEIR CHILDREN ARE LEGALLY ENTITLED. 77% OF CLIENTS SEEK OUR LEGAL SERVICES FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION RELATED MATTERS. 55% OF STUDENT ADVOCACY'S CLIENTS ARE YOUTH IN GRADES PRE-K THROUGH 6, INDICATING THAT THE ORGANIZATION IS SERVING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES EARLY IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL OF LEADING TO IMPROVED OUTCOMES REGARDING ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. 78% OF STUDENTS SERVED BY THE ORGANIZATION ARE STUDENTS OF COLOR. 95% OF FAMILIES RECEIVED SERVICES AT NO COST. 47 VOLUNTEERS DONATED 159 HOURS SERVING ON THE OVERCOMING THE ODDS (OTO) SELECTION COMMITTEE TO CHOOSE STUDENT HONOREES FOR THE 2022 OTO RECOGNITION CEREMONY. OVERCOMING THE ODDS MIDDLE SCHOOL/HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM: THE OVERCOMING THE ODDS MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS PROVIDE LEGALLY BASED EDUCATION ADVOCACY SERVICES FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ARE AT RISK FOR ACADEMIC FAILURE AND DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOL DUE TO PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES, LEARNING CHALLENGES, TRAUMA, OR DISCIPLINARY ISSUES. THE GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS RECEIVE THE EDUCATION SERVICES AND SUPPORTS TO WHICH THEY ARE LEGALLY ENTITLED ENABLING THEM TO EXPERIENCE ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND REMAIN IN SCHOOL. YOUTH ARE FROM ELEVEN TARGETED COMMUNITIES: ELMSFORD, GREENBURGH, MOUNT VERNON, NEW ROCHELLE, OSSINING, PEEKSKILL, PORT CHESTER, SLEEPY HOLLOW, TARRYTOWN, WHITE PLAINS AND YONKERS. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: SERVED 122 STUDENTS; OF THE 73 MATTERS CLOSED 99% OF STUDENTS RECEIVED SERVICES THAT WERE MORE TAILORED TO THEIR LEARNING NEEDS.

RIGHT START PROGRAM: THE RIGHT START PROGRAM PROVIDED EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY FOR STUDENTS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHOSE READING PROFICIENCY IS TWO YEARS OR MORE BELOW GRADE LEVEL. ADVOCATES ASSISTED STUDENTS IN OBTAINING THE APPROPRIATE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORTS TO ADVANCE THEIR READING SKILLS WHILE ALSO ADDRESSING RELATED LEARNING BARRIERS SUCH AS ABSENTEEISM AND BEHAVIORAL ISSUES. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: MET ALL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS INCLUDING SERVING 41 STUDENTS. CLOSED 31 CASES IN WITH 97% OF STUDENTS RECEIVING THE SERVICES REQUIRED TO ADDRESS THEIR LITERACY DEVELOPMENT. READY FOR LIFE PROGRAM: THE READY FOR LIFE PROGRAM PROVIDED EDUCATION ADVOCACY SERVICES FOR 24 STUDENTS AGES 15 TO 17 WITH AN IEP, TO ENSURE THAT A TRANSITION PLAN WAS DEVELOPED THAT FOCUSED ON IMPROVING THE ACADEMIC AND FUNCTIONAL ACHIEVEMENT OF THE STUDENT AND FACILITATED THE STUDENT'S MOVEMENT FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO POST-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING POST- SECONDARY EDUCATION, VOCATIONAL EDUCATION, INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT, INDEPENDENT LIVING, AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 20 OF THE 24 MATTERS WERE CLOSED DURING THIS TIME PERIOD AND IN 100% OF CLOSED MATTERS STUDENTS RECEIVED TRANSITION PLANS TO SUPPORT THEIR POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION AND LIVING NEEDS AND GOALS.

SOLUTIONS NOT SUSPENSIONS: SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS ARE USUALLY APPLIED DUE TO BEHAVIOR THAT PRESENTS A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER OF PHYSICAL INJURY TO THE STUDENT, OTHER STUDENTS, OR SCHOOL PERSONNEL, OR THAT PREVENTS THE ORDERLY OPERATION OF CLASSES OR OTHER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AS AUTHORIZED BY THE NYS DISCIPLINE CODE. IT HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED THAT SUSPENSIONS ARE MORE FREQUENTLY APPLIED TO STUDENTS OF COLOR. AND FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES THE IMPACT OF SUSPENSIONS CAN HAVE LONG-LASTING NEGATIVE IMPACT ON BOTH ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: SERVED 40 STUDENTS; OF THE 31 MATTERS CLOSED, 94% OF STUDENTS RECEIVED SERVICES THAT ENABLED THEM TO REMAIN IN SCHOOL. THE CONTRACT SERVED THOSE STUDENTS IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY WHO WERE MOST IN NEED AS 100% CAME FROM SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHERE 50% OR MORE OF THE POPULATION IS IDENTIFIED AS ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED.