Student Advocacy

Program wide accomplishments: Student Advocacy provided legal representation and counsel for 543 unduplicated youth ages 3 to 19 with disabilities in westchester and putnam counties new york. Among the 404 closed matters, Student Advocacy successfully advocated for improved education services in 96% of the matters including parents educated to become effective advocates for their children. 82% of clients receiving services from Student Advocacy attended schools in districts where 50% or more of the Student population is identified as economically disadvantaged. Student Advocacy is successfully reaching its target audience - lower income families who without our expert legal representation would be unable to access the education services to which their children are legally entitled to in school. 74% of clients seek our legal services for special education related matters. 44% of students served are youth in grades pre-k through 6 indicating that the organization is serving students with disabilities early in their academic, social, and emotional development, when intervention can have the greatest and longest lasting impact. 88% of students served by the organization are students of color or from historically marginalized communities. 98% of families received services at no cost. 47 volunteers donated 187 hours serving on the overcoming the odds selection committee to choose the Student honorees for the 2023 oto awards recognition ceremony. As per the independent sector volunteer hours in 2023 were valued at 37.29 per hour for a total value of 6,973.23 hours. The overcoming the odds middle school and high school programs provide legal representation and counsel for middle and high school students who are struggling in school due to disabilities and other complex challenges. The organization's education attorneys and advocates represent students and their families to ensure that they are rcieving the educational services to which they are legally entitled to in school.eleven targeted communities: elmsford, greenburgh, mount vernon, new rochelle, ossining, peekskill, port chester, sleepy hollow, tarrytown, white plains and yonkers. Accomplishments: served 127 students total under both contracts; of the 100 matters closed during this period 97% of students received educational services that were more tailored to their learning needs and/or the parent was educated to be an effective advocate for their child. 80% of students received direct legal representation.

Solutions not suspensions: the solutions not suspension program addresses the needs of youth who are facing disciplinary action with the goal of limiting or eliminating the amount of time that a Student spends out of school. Research demonstrates the harmful impact of being suspended from school: "after being suspended, a Student is 20% more likely to fail; 8% more likely to drop out; and 55% more likely to become involved in the juvenile justice system." Student Advocacy seeks alternatives to suspensions that include restorative justice practices. Accomplishments: served 71 students; of the 67 matters closed 97% resulted in a reduction in the amount of time spent out of school and the addition of services to address the students' social, emotional, and academic needs. The contract served those students most at risk. 100% were enrolled in school districts where 50% or more of the population is identified as economically disadvantaged. 89% of students received direct legal representation.

Right start program: the right start program provides 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: served 37 students; of the 31 matters closed during this period 94% received appropriate services to address their literacy development; 89% of students received direct legal representation. Ready for life program: the ready for life program provided legal representation and Advocacy services for 25 unduplicated students ages 14 to 21 with an individual education plan (iep)), to ensure that students with qualifying disabilites, have transition goals in their iep that prepare them to move from high school to post-school activities, including post-secondary education, vocational education, integrated employment, independent living, and community participation. Accomplishments: served 25 students and 28 matters ; of the 26 matters closed during this period ;96% of students received transition plans to support their post-secondary education, employment, and independent living goals. 86% of students received direct legal representation.

Department of probation:promoting school services for court involved youth program; Student advocation provided legal representation and counsel for students who have interacted with the juvenile justice system. Attorneys represent youth to ensure that they reengage with their learning and receive the education resources and services to which they are legally entitled and will enable them to return to or remain in school. Our organization promotes restorative justice practices as an alternative to disciplinary action. Accomplishments: served 59 unduplicated students and 60 matters; of the 60 matters closed, 87% received services that enabled students to renegage with school and learning and parents were educated on how to become effective advocates for their children; 92% received direct representation and 95% are students of color or from historically marginalized communities.