Welcome to the Website for the 853 Coalition
The NYS Coalition of 853 Schools was formed in 1991 by a group of Chapter 853 residential and day schools principally located on the grounds of agencies that provide various child welfare, juvenile justice, and family/community support services. These educational programs are dedicated to improving the opportunities and outcomes for students enrolled in our schools. Schools largely serve school aged children involved in the foster care, juvenile justice and special education systems. The Coalition speaks on behalf of a broad spectrum of special education students enrolled in our member agency schools – from those with emotional/behavioral issues to those with developmental challenges – by advocating, assisting and representing the schools which support and educate them.
The Coalition’s primary purposes are to
- Advocate with government on behalf of Coalition members to establish sound laws and regulations as well as generate adequate resources and support to help member schools better accomplish their work and,
- Gather and disseminate timely and useful information important to schools with respect to policy and other developments or changes that affect members’ abilities to pursue their missions with excellence