Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari & Marina Marcou-O'Malley · [email protected]

August 23, 2026 at 6:54 PM

Become a Sponsor for AQE’s Diapers to Diplomas Convening

We’re excited to invite you to join us as a sponsor of Diapers to Diplomas: Reimagining the Continuum of Learning, Care and Opportunity, taking place October 15–16 in New York City. Sponsorship Opportunities Now A…

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  Marina Marcou-O'Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari · [email protected]

August 21, 2026 at 12:01 PM

Taxing the Ultra-Wealthy, Investing in Children and Families

Taxing the Ultra-Wealthy, Investing in Children and Families A New York built around shared possibility would be one where those with the greatest wealth contribute more. In a state as wealthy as New York, child…

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  Marina Marcou-O'Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari · [email protected]

August 13, 2026 at 5:05 PM

East Ramapo is the case for strengthening community power in public schools

East Ramapo is the case for strengthening community power in public schools Public schools should be places where every student has the resources and support they need to learn, no matter their race, income, or …

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  Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari & Marina Marcou-O'Malley · [email protected]

August 9, 2026 at 10:31 AM

Early bird registration is open for AQE's Diapers to Diplomas Conference!

Join us for the Diapers to Diplomas: Reimagining the Continuum of Learning, Care and Opportunity conference on October 15 & 16 in New York City. Early bird registration is open! …

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  Marina Marcou-O'Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari · [email protected]

August 7, 2026 at 10:17 AM

Learning Together this Black August

Learning Together this Black August Black August calls us to remember where our movements come from and to strengthen ourselves for the work ahead. Born inside California’s prison system, it honors Black politic…

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  Marina Marcou-O'Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari · [email protected]

August 5, 2026 at 5:19 PM

Building Democracy in Our Schools

Building Democracy in Our Schools Public schools are where children learn and where communities build connection and possibility, so decisions about budgets and classroom conditions should be made with the peopl…

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  Alliance for Quality Education · [email protected]

July 30, 2026 at 10:29 PM

Urge your U.S. senators to stop student surveillance

Urge your U.S. senators to stop student surveillance. The College Transparency Act passed the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee this morning. HELP reviews education legislation before…

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  Marina Marcou-O'Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari · [email protected]

July 29, 2026 at 10:18 AM

Support the fight for Solutions Not Suspensions

Support the fight for Solutions Not Suspensions. Every student should be able to walk into a school that supports them through hard moments, rather than sending them out of class and closer to criminalization. T…

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  Marina Marcou-O'Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari · [email protected]

July 21, 2026 at 5:57 PM

Funding public schools for the students they serve

Funding public schools for the students they serve. In 2026, with all of you, AQE helped win a stronger school aid increase than the Governor initially proposed. We also helped win updates to the school funding …

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  Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari & Marina Marcou-O'Malley · [email protected]

July 16, 2026 at 12:02 PM

Early bird registration is open! Join us for AQE's Diapers to Diplomas Conference

Join us for the Diapers to Diplomas: Reimagining the Continuum of Learning, Care and Opportunity conference on October 15 & 16 in New York City. Early bird registration is open! …

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  Marina Marcou-O'Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari · [email protected]

June 26, 2026 at 7:50 PM

New York Must Reject Trump's School Voucher Tax Credit Scheme

Tell Gov. Hochul to Reject Trump's School Voucher Tax Credit Scheme Hi John, The federal private school voucher tax credit scheme diverts public funds from public schools. Just this week, Rhode Island and Vermon…

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  Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari and Marina Marcou-O'Malley · [email protected]

June 23, 2026 at 4:35 PM

Today is Primary Day.

Hi John, Today is Primary Day. If you haven't voted yet, make your plan to get to the polls today. Across the country, we're seeing growing threats to our democracy and more attempts to shut communities out of the decisions that shape their lives. Here in New York, voting is o…

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  Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari and Marina Marcou-O'Malley and · [email protected]

June 19, 2026 at 10:01 AM

Freedom We Build Together

Freedom We Build Together We know Juneteenth as the day freedom was declared for enslaved people long before it reached them. Today, it serves as a reminder of how often this country has delayed justice, and how…

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  Marina Marcou-O'Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari · [email protected]

June 13, 2026 at 2:44 PM

Show up for democracy this weekend!

Hi John, Early voting starts today for New York’s June 23 primary, and now is the time to make your plan to vote. Across the country, we are seeing growing threats to our democracy and attempts to make it harder for people to be heard. Here in New York, voting is one way we ma…

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  Alliance for Quality Education · [email protected]

June 11, 2026 at 1:47 PM

Join us 6/16: What is Trump's Voucher Tax Scam and what does it mean for NY?

Hi John, Join us to learn more and take action against Trump's Voucher Tax Scam, another privatization scheme happening across the country and potentially coming to New York. Tune into our Voucher Teach-in June 16th at 7 pm to learn more about vouchers and how they hurt publ…

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  Marina Marcou-O'Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari · [email protected]

June 10, 2026 at 6:48 PM

What this year’s final budget means for NY’s public schools and child care

What this year’s final budget means for NY’s public schools and child care Last week, state leaders finalized one of the latest budgets in years, and soon thereafter, the legislative session ended. As we turn to…

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  Marina Marcou-O'Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari · [email protected]

June 3, 2026 at 5:11 PM

Trump’s Voucher Scam Is Coming For NYS Public Dollars

Last year, Congress opened the door to a federal voucher scam that would send money away from public schools that need it. States can choose to opt into this program, but do not have to. New York can still shut this down. Speak up now to tell Governor Hochul, state legislators…

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  Marina Marcou-O'Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari · [email protected]

May 29, 2026 at 5:05 PM

Help Improve Bus Service for NYC Students

Too many New York City families spend their mornings face-to-face with problems with their school bus service. Buses show up late and provide inconsistent service, routes are excessively long, and students are sometimes left without transportation home from after-school progra…

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  Marina Marcou-O'Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari · [email protected]

May 28, 2026 at 7:08 PM

New York’s State budget is finalized leaving major work ahead

New York’s State budget is finalized leaving major work ahead New York State's budget has finally been enacted after weeks of delay, closing out a budget season that began with a palpable sense of hope for famil…

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  Alliance for Quality Education · [email protected]

May 18, 2026 at 2:53 PM

Vote for your school budget tomorrow!

Hi John, Tomorrow, you have a chance to support your pubic school students by voting for their school budgets on the ballot. Most school districts across New York have their budgets up for a vote. Wherever you are in New York, please get out and vote “yes" for your local schoo…

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  Marina Marcou-O'Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari · [email protected]

May 14, 2026 at 5:41 PM

Make 5 calls today for child care and education

Make Five Calls for Public Schools and Child Care Hi John​, No, the state budget is NOT done, despite what you might have heard from Governor Hochul last week. That means there is still time to put pressure on …

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  Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari & Marina Marcou-O'Malley · [email protected]

May 7, 2026 at 7:45 PM

Save the Date: AQE's Diapers to Diplomas Conference is October 16 and 17!

Hi John, Mark your calendar and get ready to join us for AQE’s conference, Diapers to Diplomas: Reimagining the Continuum of Learning, Care and Opportunity on October 15 & 16 in New York City. Diapers to Diplomas will be a two-day gathering for parents, educators, youth …

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  Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari and Marina Marcou-O'Malley · [email protected]

April 29, 2026 at 4:47 PM

Day 3: It’s time for solutions, not suspensions.

Day 3: It’s time for solutions, not suspensions. We hope you were able to take yesterday’s Foundation Aid action, and the child care action the day before. If you did, thank you, and if not, there’s still time to …

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  Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari and Marina Marcou-O'Malley · [email protected]

April 27, 2026 at 8:53 PM

Budget is still not final – join our week of action.

Budget is still not final – join our week of action. We’ve now seen too many budget extentions, with leaders once again pushing past the deadline instead of reaching a final agreement. Nothing is locked in yet, wh…

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  Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari + Marina Marcou-O'Malley · [email protected]

April 11, 2026 at 9:48 AM

This is not the direction New York should go.

It has been hard not to feel frustrated as protest is being restricted across the country, and now here, in New York State, where proposals to limit where people can gather and speak out are being considered by our state legislature. Lawmakers are weighing so-called buffer zon…

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  Marina Marcou-O'Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari · [email protected]

April 10, 2026 at 6:01 PM

Don't Leave Out Child Care Workers or CCAP from the Final Budget

Don't Leave Out Child Care Workers or CCAP from the Final Budget Send an email > Make a call > We are now in a second budget extension, with leaders ag…

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  Marina Marcou-O'Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari · [email protected]

April 1, 2026 at 9:47 PM

April Fools – Albany didn’t get the memo!

April Fools – Albany didn’t get the memo! Send an email > Imagine this?! New York’s budget deal has been reached and the Governor agreed to tax the rich and fully fund what our c…

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  Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari and Marina Marcou-O'Malley · [email protected]

March 31, 2026 at 9:09 PM

No Final Budget Without Taxing the Rich.

No Final Budget Without Taxing the Rich Send an email > Make a call > Governor Hochul let today’s deadline pass and chose a budget extender through nex…

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  Marina Marcou-O'Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari · [email protected]

March 28, 2026 at 11:18 AM

This is about how power is used in our state budget negotiations.

This is about how power is used in our state budget negotiations. Send an email > As our state budget is negotiated behind closed doors by a small group of leaders, a major decis…

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  Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari and Marina Marcou-O'Malley · [email protected]

March 24, 2026 at 8:34 PM

Child Care Workers and CCAP Can’t Be Left Out of the Final Budget

Child Care Workers and CCAP Can’t Be Left Out of the Final Budget Send an email > Make a call > We’re in the final stretch of New York’s state budget n…

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  Marina Marcou-O'Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari · [email protected]

March 19, 2026 at 7:51 PM

Don’t let the final budget ignore the real cost of educating students

Don’t let the final budget ignore the real cost of educating students Send an email > Make a call > New York’s state budget is due by the end of this m…

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  Marina Marcou-O'Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari · [email protected]

March 17, 2026 at 6:47 PM

URGENT: Stand with Child Care Educators on 3/20

Hi John​, We invite you to join AQE on Friday for a press conference outside Governor Hochul's New York City office, to send a clear message to Albany: The time to act to protect child care educators and families is now.​ Frida…

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  Marina Marcou-O'Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari · [email protected]

March 10, 2026 at 10:19 PM

Call on Albany to Put New York’s Wealth to Work for Families

Call on Albany to Put New York’s Wealth to Work for Families Send an email > Make a call > The Senate and Assembly put forward their one house budget p…

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  Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari and Marina Marcou-O'Malley · [email protected]

March 8, 2026 at 9:47 AM

Push for Child Care Funding Before One-House Budgets Lock In

Push for Child Care Funding Before One-House Budgets Lock In Send an email > Make a call > One-house budget proposals are expected early this week, whi…

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  Marina Marcou-O'Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari · [email protected]

March 6, 2026 at 10:47 AM

Before One-House Budgets Drop, Tell Albany to Fund Child Care Workforce

With one-house proposals expected in just days, time is running out to include critical investments in the child care workforce. Families and educators are counting on state leaders to include these priorities in the state budget. Sunday is International Women’s Day, a day tha…

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  Marina Marcou-O'Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari · [email protected]

March 2, 2026 at 10:47 AM

For Our Children, We Must Draw A Line

Children are witnessing violence in their neighborhoods – watching parents being taken away, watching authority figures wield power without consequence – and they are carrying the weight of it into every part of their lives. If you are a child who has seen masked ICE agents on…

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  Alliance for Quality Education · [email protected]

February 24, 2026 at 5:24 PM

We've been busy! Advocacy Days, Budget Hearings & What’s Next

Hi John, We’re officially more than halfway through this year’s budget season in New York, and we’ve never been busier. Advocacy Days in Albany Hundreds of students, parents, educators, and advocates traveled to Alban…

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  Alliance for Quality Education · [email protected]

February 21, 2026 at 10:46 AM

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, …

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  Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari and Marina Marcou-O'Malley · [email protected]

February 11, 2026 at 10:46 AM

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…

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  Alliance for Quality Education · [email protected]

February 9, 2026 at 4:12 PM

Come to our Caucus Weekend events!

Come see AQE at Caucus Weekend If you're planning to be in Albany for Caucus Weekend​ this coming weekend, don't miss AQE's two Friday events: First, we are hosting a panel discussion at 1 PM at Hilton Albany di…

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  Marina Marcou-O'Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari · [email protected]

February 6, 2026 at 7:33 PM

Thanks for joining us in Albany!

This Wednesday, hundreds of students, parents, educators, and advocates from across New York State gathered at the Capitol for AQE Advocacy Day. People traveled to Albany to speak directly with elected officials and bring their lived experiences into conversations that will sh…

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  Marina Marcou-O'Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari · [email protected]

February 4, 2026 at 10:47 AM

Delivering affordability demands real investment in our kids

Students, parents, educators, and advocates are traveling today to the State Capitol from every corner of New York for AQE’s annual Advocacy Day. Change has always required sustained collective action. We will keep fighting until dignity and opportunity are real and accessible…

See More from Marina Marcou-O'Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari

  Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari and Marina Marcou-O'Malley · [email protected]

February 2, 2026 at 10:05 PM

Tell State Leaders: Update the Foundation Aid Formula in this Year’s Budget

Tell State Leaders: Fully Fund and Update the NYS Education Funding Formula in this Year’s Budget Send an email Affordability is the buzzword of the moment, and Governor Hochul rightly is zeroing in…

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  Alliance for Quality Education · [email protected]

January 5, 2026 at 10:17 AM

New Yorkers Want Child Care for All – Make Sure Albany Hears Us!

  Dear John,   The new year brings a new state budget, and this year New York has a real opportunity to transform child care for families in every region of the state.   We need to make clear to our ele…

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  Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari & Marina Marcou-O'Malley · [email protected]

December 31, 2025 at 7:50 PM

2026, are you ready for AQE?

  Hello John,   This year took AQE everywhere.   From Buffalo to the Shinnecock Nation, from Plattsburgh to New York City. To DC, Nashville, Chicago, New Jersey and Salt Lake City.    We organized ralli…

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  Alliance for Quality Education · [email protected]

December 30, 2025 at 10:31 AM

Tell Albany: New Yorkers Want Child Care for All

  Dear John,   With the new year comes a new state budget, and this year New York has a real opportunity to transform child care for families in every region of the state.   We need to make clear to our…

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  Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari · [email protected]

December 19, 2025 at 9:31 PM

Join us Sunday: A Child Care Conversation for Dads

  Hello John,   Join me this Sunday December 21 for a conversation about child care just for dads.   We're bringing together dads to talk about your experiences and challenges around child care. We want …

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  Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari & Marina Marcou-O'Malley · [email protected]

December 12, 2025 at 3:34 PM

Join us to learn about NY Child Care for All

  Hello John,   Join us next week for one of our virtual teach-ins on our new roadmap, New York State Child Care for All, on either Monday, December 15 or Thursday, December 18, from 6:30 to 7:30.   Thes…

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  Marina Marcou-O'Malley & Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari · [email protected]

December 11, 2025 at 4:24 PM

NY can have child care for all! Email your state reps

  Hello John,   As New York City prepares for a new mayoral administration and the state prepares for a new budget cycle, it’s important that our leaders in the legislature hear from us that universal ch…

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  Alliance for Quality Education · [email protected]

December 5, 2025 at 7:44 PM

Be Part of the Push for Child Care for All

  Hello John,   Join us for a virtual teach-in on the ESCCC roadmap, New York State Child Care for All, from 6:30–7:30 PM on either December 15 or December 18. Each session will cover the same material, …

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