Common Cause/NY and YAFFED Demand NYC Comptroller and PA Investigate Yeshiva Educational Standards

NEW YORK, NY (06/19/2018) (readMedia)-- Standing outside the offices of the NYC Public Advocate Leticia James and Comptroller Scott Stringer, Common Cause/NY and YAFFED demanded that James and Stringer use their respective oversight powers to launch an investigation into the City's failure to hold yeshivas responsible for skirting state educational standards. The groups called for educational equity for all New York City school children.

Attached is a letter issued by Common Cause/NY, YAFFED, and the Workmen's Circle to James and Stringer.

"A group should not have the power to evade state law simply because elected officials kowtow to certain communities. Common Cause/NY calls on the Public Advocate and NYC Comptroller to put politics aside and exercise their oversight powers and demand the city release its investigation into NYC yeshivas. All students deserve an equal education -- the city should stop playing politics with their lives," said Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause/NY.

"This is a serious case of educational neglect, and it is outrageous that to date twenty four out of thirty nine Yeshivas haven't so much as received a visit. What message does it send to Yeshivas and other unscrupulous institutions when they see that they can get away with no repercussions?" said Naftuli Moster, Executive Director of YAFFED.

According to New York State law, nonpublic schools must provide an education that is "substantially equivalent" to that of public schools. Of the nearly 60,000 children attending a Hasidic yeshiva in New York City, most boys under age thirteen receive a paltry amount of instruction in English and math each week. Students are frequently taught by unqualified teachers while other core subjects are simply not taught at all.

Nearly three years ago, the Department of Education announced an investigation into thirty-nine yeshivas for failing to meet the most basic educational standards. The results of the investigation have yet to be released. The city is quickly approaching the point where yet another school year will have gone by without any required oversight for thousands of children educated in yeshivas.