FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, July 30, 2018

New York, NY - As Asian Pacific American (APA) nonprofits in New York City, we come together to share our common values and beliefs on education in response to the proposed changes to the specialized high school admissions process.

As a community of APA nonprofits, we believe that:

1. Diverse and inclusive school environments are beneficial to all students. Research has shown that diverse and inclusive school environments provide educational benefits to all students. Positive student outcomes include stronger cognitive skills such as critical thinking and problem solving.

2. The NYC Department of Education (DOE) needs to address inequities in education across Pre-K through 12th grade and examine current processes and admission policies. We are still facing the outcomes of historic under-investments in education and systems that have historically disenfranchised communities of color, immigrants, and low income working class New Yorkers.

3. No family or parent from any community should be shamed in discussions around education and schooling. We know that all parents and guardians want the best for their children, including their educational success.

4. Families need more easily accessible information to be better informed about the full variety of opportunities for their children's schooling at all levels. Navigating the NYC school system is especially difficult for APA families facing language and cultural barriers or lack of historical education access. The DOE must take charge to provide a navigable and transparent application, enrollment, and admission system.

5. ALL children have the potential to succeed and excel in schools when given the right support and environment because no student goes to school wanting to fail. The DOE needs to take responsibility in providing students with healthy learning environments that foster critical social, emotional, and academic growth.

6. ALL communities should be involved in constructive dialogue, especially when critical decisions are being made about schools, not just certain communities. We believe that real solutions can be developed if we work through the hard discussions, including those about gender, race, class, immigration history, and ability. These discussions should bring together stakeholders, families and students, policy makers and advocates, and educators from APA, Black, and Latinx who represent a full range of groups from geographic areas and income levels.

APA Organizations in Support:

A Place for Kids

Adhikaar

Apex for Youth

Arab-American Family Support Center

Asian American Federation

Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF)

Brooklyn Chinese-American Association

CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities

Chinese-American Planning Council

Chhaya Community Development Corporation

Chinese Progressive Association

Chinese-American Family Alliance for Mental Health

CMP

Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF)

Coalition of Asian-America IPA

Council of Peoples Organization Inc

Damayan Migrant Workers Association

DRUM - Desis Rising Up & Moving

Garden of Hope

Hamilton Madison House

India Home Inc.

Indo-Caribbean Alliance (ICA)

Indochina Sino-American Community Center

Japanese American Social Services, Inc. (JASSI)

Korean American Family Service Center

Korean Community Services of Metropolitan New York, Inc.

Mekong NYC

MinKwon Center for Community Action

OCA-NY

Project New Yorker

Sakhi for South Asian Women

South Asian Council for Social Services

South Asian Youth Action (SAYA)

Turning Point for Women and Families

Womankind