Advocates Urge Action to Oppose New School Rules

With less than two weeks left to comment on new regulations proposed by the state’s education department, community activists are intensifying efforts to rally the community in opposition. What’s at stake is the very character of New York’s yeshivos: For the first time, the state wants to mandate nearly five hours of secular studies per day for upper elementary classes — and slightly less for high schools — along with control over which subjects are taught and which teachers may be hired.

Since the curriculum at many yeshivos calls for four and a half hours of limudei kodesh per day, this means the complete transplanting of time spent on Gemara, Chumash, and other Torah subjects for secular disciplines like science and math.

The Board of Regents, the bureau that oversees all education matters in New York state, must allow the public to comment before moving ahead. A 60-day comment period ends on September. 2.

Askanim have responded by urging community members to write letters objecting to the proposed changes, but they are facing significant headwinds. Representatives of PEARLS (Parents for Educational and Religious Liberty in Schools) have been canvassing summer camps, bungalow colonies, minyan factories, and public shiurim to inform people of the threat students will face in the 2020 school year if concerned people don’t act now.