Common Cause/NY to Albany Lawmakers: Repeal the Felder Amendment

NEW YORK, NY (01/22/2019) (readMedia)-- In response to news that the state may increase aid to nonpublic schools, Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause/NY, issued the following statement:

"Yeshivas are once again poised for an increase to the millions in taxpayer dollars they already receive, all while continuing to skirt state education standards. It's time for lawmakers to repeal the 'Felder amendment' - a carve-out that was clearly a favor to a once powerful Senator - and end political jockeying to the detriment of students. All children, regardless of religion, deserve a basic education."

The Felder Amendment allows for yeshivas to determine for themselves if their curricula meet the statutory requirement mandated by the state.

Background:

According to New York State law, nonpublic schools must provide an education that is "substantially equivalent" to that of public schools. Of the over 60,000 children attending a Hasidic yeshiva in New York State, 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.