New York

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources (1)+

• Special Education During COVID-19 (Video)

  This is a video from Legal Services of the Hudson Valley that applies to all families in New York State with a child that receives special education services. There are some options for you if you feel your student is not receiving appropriate services. This video is about those options and navigating your child's education during COVID-19. Content Detail

  By:

  Legal Services of the Hudson Valley

I am an immigrant (1)+

• Green cards for youth in foster care or guardianships

  This information sheet is on Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS). Content Detail

  By:

  The Door - A Center of Alternatives (for Youth)

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

  French / Français

I am emancipated or I want to become emancipated (2)+

• Emancipation in New York

  Emancipation is the process of a parent giving up control over a minor child so that the child has control over his own legal decisions and support before he is an adult (age 18). Content Detail

  By:

  Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.- LawNY® - Geneva Office

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• What are my rights as an emancipated minor?

  This resource explains what an emancipated minor is, when someone under 18 can be considered to be emancipated, and what rights you do and do not have as an emancipated minor. Read More

  By:

  The Door - A Center of Alternatives (for Youth)

I need to appeal a decision or file a complaint about my education (4)+

• Appeals to the Commissioner of Education

  Certain decisions regarding education can be appealed to the New York State Commissioner of Education, including disputes about suspensions, homeless student rights, promotion, school transfers and No Child Left Behind. The NY State Education Department's website contains instructions and sample forms for filing an appeal. Content Detail

  By:

  New York State Education Department

  Read this in:

  Arabic / العربية

  Bengali / বাংলা

  Spanish / Español

  Haitian Creole / Kreyòl Ayisyen

  Chinese (Traditional) / 中文

• Guides on your rights in New York City's public school system

  This link takes you to a webpage with free guides and resources on education, education advocacy, and student's rights. Content Detail

  By:

  Advocates for Children of New York, Inc.

• How to File a Complaint About a Public School with the State Department of Education

  You may file a complaint with the State Department of Education when you believe a school has violated federal or state education laws or regulations. This is a 3-page fact sheet explaining how to file a complaint. Content Detail

  By:

  New York Lawyers for Public Interest, Inc.

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

  Korean / 한국어

  Chinese (Traditional) / 中文

• How to File a Discrimination Complaint with the Office for Civil Rights

  The Office for Civil Rights enforces federal civil rights laws that do not allow discrimination in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance from the Department of Education. Find out how to file a complaint on this webpage. Content Detail

  By:

  United States Department of Justice

  Read this in:

  Amharic / አማርኛ

  Arabic / العربية

  Spanish / Español

  Farsi / فارسی

  French / Français

  Hindi / हिन्दी

  Hmong / Hmoob

  Haitian Creole / Kreyòl Ayisyen

  Korean / 한국어

  Laotian / ພາສາລາວ

  Punjabi / ਪੰਜਾਬੀ

  Russian / Pусский

  Serbo-Croatian / Српско-Хрватском Језику

  Somali / Soomaali

  Swahili / Kiswahili

  Tagalog / Pilipino

  Urdu / اردو

  Vietnamese / Tiếng Việt

  Chinese (Traditional) / 中文

I need information about special education (3)+

• A guide to special education laws in New York State

  This is a PDF about the special education laws and policies in New York State. Content Detail

  By:

  Special Education Taskforce

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• The Special Education Evaluation Process

  There are 5 Steps to a Special Education Evaluation (find out what they are here). An evaluation can not be based on one test or the opinion of one individual. The evaluation must be nondiscriminatory and conducted in the student’s native language. Content Detail

  By:

  Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.- LawNY® - Geneva Office

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• What you need to know about getting special education services

  This resource is an article on Legal Aid Society's website that has answers to frequently asked questions about accessing special education for students age 5-21. Click the link to go to the article. Content Detail

  By:

  Legal Aid Society

I have an IEP (3)+

• How to advocate for a student with disabilities

  This webpage has links to online articles that will help you learn how to advocate for a student with special needs, for example, how to ask the right questions, how to negotiate with educators, how to manage your child's documents, how to handle disagreements about an IEP, and more. Content Detail

  By:

  Wrightslaw.com

• Key Terms and Acronyms in Special Education Law

  This article is a list of terms commonly used in special education law, for example, IEP, CSE, BIP, AT, Section 504, and more. Content Detail

  By:

  Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.- LawNY® - Geneva Office

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Special Education

  This guide is meant to introduce parents of students in New York City to the special education process. It provides an overview of special education services, the rights of students with disabilities, and your rights as the parent of a child with a disability. This guide is meant primarily for parents of school-age children, from kindergarten to 12th grade. Content Detail

  By:

  Advocates for Children of New York, Inc.

I am facing a school suspension (5)+

• AFC's Guide to School Suspensions

  This link opens up a PDF document about suspensions. Here you will find answers to questions like: When can my child be suspended? What can I do if my child has been suspended? What should I expect at the Superintendent’s Suspension Hearing? Content Detail

  By:

  Advocates for Children of New York, Inc.

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Citywide Behavioral Expectations to Support Student Learning

  The New York City School Discipline Code is available here. It contains a list of infractions and acceptable disciplinary interventions. Content Detail

  By:

  New York City Department of Education

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• New York procedures for suspensions of students with disabilities

  This is the section of Title 8 (8 NYCRR Part 200.1) which is a set of regulations from the the New York State Commissioner about what disciplinary actions in schools are appropriate for students with disabilities. Content Detail

  By:

  New York State Education Department

• Quick Facts - Student Rights Regarding Discipline

  A student has a right to be disciplined fairly in school. For example, a principal's suspension may last a maximum of five days, and the parent must be notified in writing of the suspension within 24 hours. Content Detail

  By:

  Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.- LawNY® - Geneva Office

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Watch a video about school suspensions and your rights

  Watch this video to learn about the different types of suspensions in New York and your rights if you've been suspended in this video. Content Detail

I was stopped by the police (2)+

• Know Your Rights With Police in Schools

  Learn your rights when being searched in school and when being scanned by a metal detector. Content Detail

  By:

  New York Civil Liberties Union

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Things You Should Know When Stopped by the Police

  This pamphlet is to help teenagers and young people better understand their legal rights and alternatives when stopped by the police. Content Detail

  By:

  The Door - A Center of Alternatives (for Youth)

I need health services (3)+

• Surviving sexual abuse and getting help

  If you are a young person who has been sexually abused, or if you think you may have been, this can help you understand your rights and find out where to go for help. Read More

  By:

  Lawyers For Children, Inc.

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Teen Health Clinics

  You can use this website to find free or low cost clinics in NYC that provide sexual health services for teens. Content Detail

  By:

  New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene

• Tips on Abortion, Contraception, and Pregnancy Rights in New York State

  Answers questions about abortion, birth control and pregnancy. Includes information about a teenager's right to an abortion and birth control. Also includes information about pregnancy discrimination at work. Read More

  By:

  LawHelpNY.org

I am in foster care (4)+

• Answers from Lawyers for Children

  Lawyers for Children have made videos and handbooks to help answers questions you may have about foster care, education, LGBTQ youth, pregnant and parenting teens, and mental health issues in English and Spanish. Read More

  By:

  Lawyers For Children, Inc.

• Information for LGBTQ Youth in Care

  This resources provides information on how lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning (LGBTQ) youth can ensure they receive nonjudgmental services while in care. Read More

  By:

  Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc.

• I want to know more about my SPR and my UCR

  This information is for young people who want to know their rights in foster care, and how the SPR/UCR process can help. Content Detail

  By:

  The Door - A Center of Alternatives (for Youth)

• What are my rights as a child in foster care?

  This booklet is about the legal rights of kids in foster care and includes information about visits, school, pregnancy, sexual orientation, legal help, court and what to do if there are problems. Content Detail

  By:

  Lawyers For Children, Inc.

I am in foster care and have a child of my own (1)+

• I am a teen parent in foster care. What are my rights?

  If you are in foster care and have a child of your own, you have rights and responsibilities. You can find information here about the cases, regulations, and laws that lay out these rights. Read More

  By:

  National Coalition for Child Protection Reform

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

I identify as LGBTQ (1)+

• Out, Safe and Respected: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights at School

  National, but with information helpful to New Yorkers Content Detail

  By:

  Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc.

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español