Just Fine for Jewish Schools

Photo: Jeffrey Tholl

R andy Fine is the only Jewish Republican in Florida’s House of Representatives. There are ten other Jewish representatives in the Florida house all affiliated with the Democratic Party but Fine is the only Jewish legislator in the majority caucus.

On Sunday Fine was honored by the Orthodox Union’s Teach Florida at its first-ever Legislative Breakfast in Hollywood Florida for securing $20 million in state programs for Jewish day schools and yeshivos.

Of 37 Jewish schools in the state at least ten are part of the Teach Florida system a group that advocates for equitable funding for all children attending Jewish schools — from Reform to chareidi. Thanks to Teach Florida’s advocacy efforts and the help of Fine and his colleagues 2 800 Jewish students in Florida schools now receive anywhere from $6 400 to $6 900 in tax-credit scholarships.

Daniel Adler vice chairman of Teach Florida and the treasurer of Katz Hillel Day School of Boca Raton told Mishpacha that the tax credit has not only helped low-income families pay burdensome tuition bills but has also allowed schools to lower tuition costs by as much as $1 000 per student. “Our main goal is to deal with a tuition crisis ” Adler said. “We want to stabilize and lower the cost of tuition so that parents can feel dignified and every school benefits from it.”