Advocate, Early Childhood Education Project

Advocates For Children (AFC) is a dynamic social justice organization that strives to ensure a high-quality education for New York students who face barriers to academic success, focusing on students from low-income backgrounds. AFC works on behalf of children and youth who are at greatest risk of academic failure due to poverty, race, ethnicity, disability, homelessness, immigration status/limited English proficiency, or involvement in the child welfare or juvenile/criminal legal systems. We use uniquely integrated strategies to advance systemic reform, empower families and communities, and advocate for the educational rights of individual students.  

AFC grounds our work in our organization’s values:  

• Family-Centered: We listen to what families want for their children and empower them with information and support.  

• Expertise: We ground our advocacy in more than 50 years of experience with the NYC public schools and deep knowledge of the legal and education systems affecting the students and families we serve. 

• Passion: We are united by our unrelenting drive to dismantle obstacles to education and our unwavering dedication to NYC’s students and families. 

• Community: We foster collaboration and inclusive practices within our team and with outside partners so we can learn from different perspectives and unite in advancing our common goals. 

• Justice: We view the law as a powerful tool to bridge gaps in access to education and help families from under-represented communities fight for their rights. 

• Impact: We recognize that our value lies in the difference we make in the lives of students and their families and push ourselves to achieve concrete results.  

For more information on AFC, see www.advocatesforchildren.org.

Job Summary

AFC seeks an advocate to join our Early Childhood Education Project. The Project provides direct representation, engages in community education, and leads policy advocacy to improve access to early childhood education for young children from low-income backgrounds so they can enter kindergarten prepared to succeed. We are looking for an advocate to join our team to help families navigate the early childhood education systems and admissions processes, secure developmental and special education services for young children with developmental delays or disabilities, and empower families to advocate on behalf of young children by leading community workshops and trainings. This position will report to the Director of Early Childhood Education.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Providing case assistance to help parents secure appropriate early intervention, preschool special education, and kindergarten services and placements for their young children. This includes responding to parent inquiries and providing families with relevant educational resources; participating in Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings for students with disabilities; advocating with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and Department of Education (DOE) to resolve problems; and advocating for families in school meetings and mediation.
• Providing technical assistance to professionals who are working to help connect young children with the early childhood education services they need.
• Presenting know-your-rights workshops to parents and professionals to provide them with information about early childhood education programs and services.
• Developing and updating guides and other informational materials.
• Contributing to the Project’s policy work to help strengthen and expand high-quality early childhood programs and services that prepare young children for kindergarten, with a particular focus on children with developmental delays or disabilities, students from immigrant families, and children who are homeless by, for example, tracking cases in order to help identify systemic barriers and identifying families interested in speaking out about the roadblocks they faced.

Qualifications

• Understanding of and alignment with AFC’s mission. Please review AFC’s work at advocatesforchildren.org.
• Desire to learn, both as an individual and as part of an organization, and apply diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism principles.
• Bachelor’s degree is required. Candidates expecting to complete their degree by June 2026 are encouraged to apply.
• Experience in education, advocacy, or social services is preferred.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong presentation skills and comfort with public speaking.
• Fluency in Spanish, Mandarin or Cantonese with ability to converse with families who speak these languages is strongly preferred.
• Ability to work both independently and as a member of a multidisciplinary team.
• Organized, detail oriented, able to maintain accurate and timely records and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends and to travel within the five boroughs.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office programs: Word, Outlook, SharePoint.

How to Apply

Candidates should submit a resume and cover letter highlighting why you are interested in this role at AFC and how your experience aligns with the Advocate position, including any personal or professional experience that demonstrates your connection to the populations that AFC serves.  

The position is available immediately, and resumes will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Due to the high volume of applicants, only qualified candidates will be contacted.  

Compensation

This is a full-time position, with a salary in the range of $60,669 - $69,589 depending on experience, and includes a comprehensive benefits package.   

This position is expected to work at least 2 days a week in the office and remotely on the remaining days. 

ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION INFORMATION

AFC’s current compensation package includes medical and dental insurance, with a plan option that covers full payment of medical plan premiums for staff and their qualified dependents.  AFC has generous time-off policies that include 10 federal holidays, office closure between Christmas and New Year’s Day, and 15 vacation days and 15 paid time off days in the first year of employment.  AFC also offers a 403(b) plan with a fully vested employer match and coverage of the premium cost of life insurance and short-term and long-term disability insurance.

AFC is an equal opportunity employer that actively seeks to recruit and retain a diverse staff and encourages all applications including from people of color, persons with disabilities, parents of persons with disabilities, persons of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or gender expressions and persons of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. 

AFC is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability or other protected characteristic. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. For more information and to request an accommodation, contact Human Resources at HR@advocatesforchildren.org.