NEW YORK (VINnews) — In a decision considered to be devastating by a large segment of the ultra-Orthodox community, the New York State Board of Regents unanimously voted to pass proposed substantial equivalency guidelines.
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Tuesday’s vote puts an end to a long drawn out political war over whether or not the government can control the quality of the secular studies curriculum provided in private schools, such as Yeshivos.
The approved regulations require that Yeshivos either have an approved Regents program, or be subject to a review by the local school authority. Private schools that don’t meet the standards are subject to being cut off from state funding. Students attending these schools would then be deemed truant, subjecting their partents to potential prosecution, such as fines and/or jail time.
The substantial equivalency battle first began approximately ten years ago, when a group of ex-Yeshiva students from New York City complained to the government that they had not received a comparable education to the public school system. This kicked off a state-run investigation into some two dozen Yeshivos, that lasted years.
It was not until 2015 that the government began to define the actual terms of what would be considered a substantially equivalent education, that eventually morphed into the regulations passed Tuesday.
Yeshiva education teaches values that have their students living law-abiding, productive lives. New York is so wrong for passing its new substantial-equivalency regulations today. Hochul, for her pathetic part, has been totally AWOL. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/DPZPmq1Jkz
— Lee Zeldin (@leezeldin) September 13, 2022
During recent years, a fierce debate reverberated throughout the government and the community, as to what takes precendence — the government’s duty to ensure the wellbeing of the students, or the autonomy of the parents of said students who wish to take advantage of their religious freedom to have their children educated according to their system of beliefs.
Much conjecture also surrounded whether or not enough evidence exists to prove the Yeshiva education system is inadequate, when one takes into account the average life outcomes for Yeshiva students vs public school students.
New York State originally proposed a set of regulations in late 2018, which sought to require specific subjects, as well as a minimum amount of time dedicated to each one. Additionally, those regulations looked to place private schools under the jurisdiction of the Local School Authority, which would be responsible for assessing the substantial equivalency status of each school.
But this version of the regulations made little progress. First, they were struck down by a judge on procedural grounds after a group of Yeshivas, Catholic schools, and independent schools opposed the measure. They were re-released in 2019, but ultimately were withdrawn by the State Education Department after 140,000 comments from Yeshiva parents and grads were submitted opposing the regulations.
Then, in March of 2022 the latest version of regulations were proposed. While this version provides a way out of being subject to the Local School Authority, namely by having Regents exams, or being accredited by an SED-certified accrediting body, it was still highly opposed by the Yeshiva system.
During April and May, the two months following the release of that draft of the regulations, more than a whopping 350,000 opposing comments were submitted. The vast majority of the comments came from Yeshiva graduates.
But despite the clear opposition by the overwhelming majority of graduates and parent body of the Yeshiva system, the New York State Board of Regents voted unanimously to pass the substantial equivalency regulations.
“We cannot relinquish control of the yeshivas that are the essence of our people. We cannot surrender control of our curricula,” said Agudah in a Tuesday statement. “We cannot abandon to others the selection of our teaching staff.”
“Our religious requirements have not been adequately addressed. Our rabbinic leadership has not been properly heard. Our 300,000 pleas of our communities have not been given the attention they deserve.”
“Our people simply cannot abandon our religious values. With the help of G-d we will not permit it to happen.”
On the other hand, YAFFED celeberated the decision.
“The regulations have passed!” wrote the organization who spearheaded the efforts to establish state oversight over Yeshivos. “Congratulations to all who have advocated for greater oversight and enforcement of non-public schools!”
The regulations have passed! Congratulations to all who have advocated for greater oversight and enforcement of non-public schools!#YeshivaGate https://t.co/gGYIbuRDbF
— YAFFED (@yaffedorg) September 13, 2022
I am still trying to understand, why won’t chasdish Yeshivos and mesiftas (same with Lakewood mesiftas) not to teach secular studies on their own. To be clear I mean without govt intervention and only what they see fit and kosher ? What’s wrong with algebra ?
Again I am not saying the govt should be involved. I am simply asking why won’t schools do it without the govt ? What is wrong with teaching it ?
Ps please no chabad Torah’s . That’s not mainstream.
Every public school and home school and charter school is regulated. Every profession (law, accounting, teaching, etc) is regulated. This prevents chaos, sub-standard practice, corruption. It is not an attack on “freedom of religion”. Its an attack on sub-standard schools, as criticized by VIN commenters many times.
I wish there eould ve more of a variety of frum hews at this protest. And it’s high time the schools become financially independent
here comes lgbt, thanks to all those askonim who refused to label the real enemy
I have one question, why not an official word from any Yeshiva? Maybe an endorsement for Zeldin or something, not a peep.
The yeshivas brought this one upon themselves. The process began long ago, when the yeshivas wanted things both ways: They wanted both autonomy and state funding. They were warned about it at the time by some rabbis and others who saw the downside to yielding their autonomy in exchange for a few dollars.
Now, the schools and yeshivas that tried to have both autonomy and funding risk getting neither.
Thank you Naftuli Moster.
You will go into history as the Mashimodim who wanted to secularize Jews.
Let us all keep in mind when we pray three times a day V‘lemalshinim al tehi tikva Moster and his troubled left back friends.
The first yeshiva shown to illustrate the story here, in this video(0:47-0:53) is Toras Emes Kamenitz, which is not a school of the type involved in this controversy. It has had for many years a robust program of secular studies along with its religious ones.
It is quite ironic that at the end of this report (2:35-2:50) they apologize for using video of Yeshiva of Flatbush in a previous report on the matter, when they have a strong secular studies program there, but the next day they repeat the same error, this time the victim being Toras Emes.
Keep voting for the democrats as they impose indoctrinating our children in their immoral depraved lifestyles
You get what you vote for, you vote for the democrats because you believe money comes from the government, you get regulated to having your kids indoctrinated into their immoral depraved lifestyles.
Don’t challenge the Goyim when we are in Golus. Remember the three oaths that Satmar et Al are so makpod about
Thanks to FJCC for supporting hochul now toeiva is a requirement for 3 year Olds
a frum man was punched today in an unprovoked attack in far rockaway: is this a direct result of the anti frum hate being broadcast by the nyt and the mosters?
Shame on Yaffed.
while I do think yeshivos should take the initiative and have some kind of secular curriculum (not everybody is destined to be in kollel forever), it’s insane that the same gov that cannot define what a woman is will try to dictate what counts as an acceptable secular curriculum. It’s both insane and hilarious that every frum kid has no problem explaining what a woman is while the politicians would probably suffer an aneurysm trying to answer the same question. In that regard, perhaps yeshivos have a better handle on science than the clowns in Albany.
“….ten years ago, when a group of ex-Yeshiva students” protesting yeshiva education.
so it is clear that those who were drop outs, they are the people behind this wicked scheme.
We have to work to help kids in trouble in the frum world. I have seen too many families that ruin their kids. This is the outcome
Move
To
Baltimore
When are they announcing lawsuit? The earlier the better.
Did you hear of Florida school vouchers. It so good that it should be illegal. In Florida there is real school choice. Why are you still living in New York. I hope it a good reason.
The Supreme Court already ruled that such measures are unconstitutional when the same thing was tried against Amish education standards.
This should be fought immediately citing the precedent set by the Amish.
So these schools had ten years to make a move toward providing a basic education in English, math, science, and history. Instead they did nothing. Now there is trouble. Who could have seen this coming?
I thought that of the three oaths we took going into Galus includes not to challenge the Goyim
Shame
Politics and religion we never talk about !!
The new rules are vague. There is no enforcement budget. Local school boards are supposed to conduct inspections.
So basically these are toothless proposals. They will be enforced as little as present ones are. So why is everyone upset?
Its important that they teach Spanish, like they do in Spanish charter schools or Chinese as they do in Chinese charter schools.
Every government website is now in Spanish, so we should know our home lnd language.
Antisemitism! Evil goyim! Evil frei and OTD Jews! We want their money, but how dare they meddle ?