The Senate and Assembly put forward their one house budget proposals today, heating up the final stretch of the fight for New York’s budget – leaving us just twenty days to push for what our communities need. Both houses recognized that New York must raise revenue to protect communities and invest in the services we … Continue reading Call on Albany to Put New York’s Wealth to Work for Families
Before the One House Budgets Drop
In just a few weeks, the Senate and Assembly will release their own proposals, or “one house” budgets. Though Governor Hochul is proposing major investments to expand child care access across New York, truly universal child care can’t happen unless the State commits to raising the wages of child care educators. We need the Senate … Continue reading Before the One House Budgets Drop
Today is Tin Cup Day – Take Action TODAY!
Today, mayors and other local elected officials from across New York will gather in Albany for the Local Governments Joint Budget Hearing, also known as Tin Cup Day. This year, their testimony comes amid escalating federal attacks that threaten families’ basic stability. Health care coverage is at risk for nearly one million New Yorkers. Hunger … Continue reading Today is Tin Cup Day – Take Action TODAY!
Fully Fund and Update the NYS Education Funding Formula in this Year’s Budget
Affordability is the buzzword of the moment, and Governor Hochul rightly is zeroing in on the affordability crisis facing New York’s families. But naming the problem is not enough: New Yorkers need the Governor and State Legislature to meet this moment with the urgency and investment that it requires in the state budget. And public … Continue reading Fully Fund and Update the NYS Education Funding Formula in this Year’s Budget
Universal Child Care Must Include Investing in the Workforce
This year’s state budget is off to a promising start. Governor Hochul says she wants to bring universal child care to all New Yorkers, and she has proposed a major increase in funding for child care vouchers and subsidies, plus two pilot programs focused on low-income families — a direct result of the tireless advocacy … Continue reading Universal Child Care Must Include Investing in the Workforce
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
Six Things Child Care Organizers Want You to Know
After a turbulent year of funding gaps and policy fights, child care organizers nationwide share what’s at stake heading into 2026. Read the article.
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?