The Accomplishments of 26 Students, the First to Graduate Yeshiva University with an Associates of Science in Management

Jacob Finkelstein speaks with Dr. Paul Russo (left) about the program while his grandmother Barbara Vogel and father Stephen Finkelstein listen.

History Made by First Graduating Class

Twenty-six Students Earn the Katz School’s Associate Degree

Even though the skies were overcast, the Sky Café radiated warmth and pride as friends, family and staff gathered on July 18, 2019, to honor the first graduating class of the Associate of Science in Management at the Katz School of Science and Health.

Dr. Paul Russo, dean of the Katz School, reflected the enthusiasm and deep satisfaction in the room when he said that “over the last two years, I have had the good fortune to be surrounded by these enterprising students—the young men and women who built YU’s associate program. They are smart and hardworking and bring to life the best of Yeshiva University. In addition to a full load of academic and Jewish studies courses, they integrated into campus life and found time for community service.”

The AS in Management is a full-time, residential program completed over two full years, including two fall semesters, two spring semesters, and two mandatory summer semesters. This first cohort of 26 students started in Fall 2017, and their achievements two years later are quite impressive: over 75 percent of them maintained a cumulative grade point average above 3.0; 19 students plan to transfer to Yeshiva University bachelor’s programs, while five students will attend bachelor’s programs outside the University.

This cohort was also active outside the class. Several student leaders founded the Katz Undergraduate Student Government (KUSG) and held their first elections and hosted their first on-campus event in Spring 2019. Eight men and two women played on the YU basketball, baseball, soccer and volleyball teams.

Students also availed themselves of the opportunities to speak with key entrepreneurs as well as cultural, business and government leaders in places like the New York Federal Reserve, Hudson Yards, Saks Fifth Avenue and The Jewish Museum as well as with judges in their chambers.

More important than their educational and cultural achievements, however, was the personal transformation the program brought to each of them. Jacob Finkelstein, who is vice president of KUSG, said it well: “This program made us all better people, and I am ready for the ride. It will be incredible.”

Kyle Harris agreed. Surrounded by his mother, Joanne, and his rabbi, Rabbi Avi Utler, both of whom flew in from Las Vegas to be at this ceremony, Harris spoke with emotion about how completing this program “made me feel accomplished and ready to move forward with my life.” He plans on pursuing his studies in education and history, with the goal of becoming a teacher of American history.

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If State Funds are Funding Yeshivas then They Should be Held to Same or Similar Standards of Secular Education

Chareidim in England and Education – Campaign Against Inspectorate Stopped

Charedi Activist Drops Campaign Against Ofsted

Charedi activist Shraga Stern has agreed to stop his public campaign against Ofsted.

London’s charedi community has been split over how to handle the inspectorate’s attitudes toward Jewish schools. Chinuch UK preferred a diplomatic approach toward the Department of Education and its inspectorate whereas Stern initiated a high-profile campaign accompanied by the threat of legal action.

Last week, Dayan Ephraim Padwa of the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations asked Stern to back down from his campaign. Stern told The Jewish Press, “I’ve always worked under the direction of the senior rabbis of the charedi community. I continue to do so. At the moment I am ceasing campaigning on their instructions.”

He added that he was sure his high-profile campaign has borne fruit and “now is the time for open dialogue and round-the-table discussions.”

Stern’s tough stance, however, seems to have been taken up by educational consultant Michael Cohen, who called, in the Jewish Tribune, for the dismissal of Ofsted head Amanda Spielman, whom he accused of conducting an “anti-religious programme.”

He suggested Jewish schools should not allow Ofsted to inspect their schools; alternatively, they should or arrange school outings on inspection days. He wrote, “As any kind of trust and confidence in Ofsted has been destroyed, our schools and mosdos should become more strident and assertive in dealing with Ofsted inspections.”

Education and Substantial Equivalence Language, New York State – Comment Submission Period

Comments Should be Submitted to:

Christina Coughlin, NY Education Department, SORIS, 89 Washington Avenue, Room 1075 EBA, Albany, NY 12234, (518) 474-7206, email:seregcomments@nysed.gov

Substantially Equivalent Instruction for Nonpublic School Students

NY-ADR

7/3/19 N.Y. St. Reg. EDU-27-19-00010-P

NEW YORK STATE REGISTER

VOLUME XLI, ISSUE 27

July 03, 2019

RULE MAKING ACTIVITIES

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

PROPOSED RULE MAKING

NO HEARING(S) SCHEDULED

I.D No. EDU-27-19-00010-P

Substantially Equivalent Instruction for Nonpublic School Students

PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE State Administrative Procedure Act, NOTICE is hereby given of the following proposed rule:

Proposed Action:

Addition of Part 130 to Title 8 NYCRR.

Statutory authority:

Education Law, sections 207, 215, 305(1), (2), 3204(1), (2), (3), 3205(1), 3210(2) and 3234

Subject:

Substantially Equivalent Instruction for Nonpublic School Students.

Purpose:

Provide guidance to local school authorities to assist them in fulfilling their responsibilities under the Compulsory Education Law.

Substance of proposed rule (Full text is posted at the following State website: http://www.counsel.nysed.gov/rules/full-text-indices):

The purpose of the proposed regulation is to provide guidance to local school authorities (LSAs) to assist them in fulfilling their responsibilities under Education Law §§ 3204, 3205, and 3210 in determining whether students in nonpublic schools are receiving instruction that is at least substantially equivalent to the instruction being provided to students of like age and attainments at the public schools. The intent of the substantial equivalency process is to ensure that all students receive the education to which they are entitled under the law. The substantial equivalency process must be a collaborative effort between LSAs and nonpublic schools.

The proposed regulation requires LSAs to make substantial equivalency determinations for all nonpublic schools within their geographical boundaries, except registered high schools, state-approved private special education schools, state-operated and state-supported schools, which are already subject to Department review, and nonpublic schools for which the Commissioner is required to make a substantial equivalency determination pursuant to Education Law § 3204(2)(ii)-(iii). Pursuant to Education Law § 3204(2)(ii)-(iii), the Commissioner is responsible for making final determinations on substantial equivalency reviews for nonpublic schools that meet the enumerated statutory criteria.

For schools that meet the statutory criteria for a Commissioner’s determination, LSAs must review such schools for substantial equivalency and forward a recommendation and supporting documentation to the Commissioner for his/her final determination.

The Department is proposing the following recommended timelines:

• New nonpublic schools that open on or after the effective date of the proposed regulation must be reviewed and all recommendations and final determinations should be made within three years of when the nonpublic school commences instruction and regularly thereafter.

• Existing nonpublic schools that are operating on the effective date of the proposed regulation must be reviewed and all recommendations and final determinations should be made by the end of the 2022-2023 school year or as soon as practicable thereafter and regularly thereafter.

The proposed regulation also recommends regular contact and communication between public and nonpublic schools, in an effort to keep each other informed of important updated information.

The proposed regulation states that substantial equivalency reviews and determinations should be conducted in a flexible and inclusive manner and should be the result of a collaboration between the LSA and the nonpublic school. Five core principles, defined in the regulation, are essential to the review process: objective, mindful, sensitive, respectful, and consistent.

The proposed regulation sets forth a recommended procedure for substantial equivalency reviews. Prior to commencing a substantial equivalency review, the LSA, after consulting with the nonpublic school, shall determine whether the Commissioner is responsible for making the final determination pursuant to Education Law § 3204(2)(ii) or (iii), or whether the LSA is responsible for making such final determination. Except for registered nonpublic high schools, state-approved private special education schools, state-operated schools and state supported schools, the superintendent or his/her designee (which may include a BOCES, where authorized under § 1950 of the Education Law) should review all nonpublic schools in the LSA’s geographic boundaries, including nonpublic schools that meet the criteria for a Commissioner’s determination, and, in conducting such reviews, the LSA must use the criteria outlined in the proposed regulation. For schools that meet the criteria for a Commissioner’s final determination, the LSA conducts the review using the appropriate criteria and makes a recommendation to the Commissioner for his/her final determination.

The proposed regulation recommends that a substantial equivalency review should be conducted by a team of at least two individuals, including individuals with expertise in instruction and the ability to communicate well with the nonpublic school community.

The proposed regulation sets forth a recommended procedure for LSAs to render determinations regarding substantial equivalency. If there are concerns about the substantial equivalency of the instruction, the proposed regulation recommends, among other things, that the LSA and nonpublic school work collaboratively to develop a clear plan and timeline, including benchmarks and targets, for attainting substantial equivalency in an amount of time that is reasonable given the concerns identified. The proposed regulation indicates that services must continue to nonpublic school students during any period for attaining substantial equivalency.

If, after the consultation described above, the concerns identified are addressed appropriately, the following steps should occur:

• the superintendent or his/her designee should inform the board of education in writing that the nonpublic school appears to be at least substantially equivalent.

• the LSA should send written notification to the administration of the nonpublic school and provide a letter for the nonpublic school to distribute to parents;

• the LSA must notify SORIS of the positive determination; and

• the superintendent or designee should share the positive finding with superintendents of school districts in which the nonpublic school’s students reside.

If, after the consultation described above, the concerns cannot be remedied or if the nonpublic school does not make the changes necessary to achieve substantial equivalency, the following steps should occur:

• The superintendent or designee should notify the board of education that the nonpublic school does not appear to be substantially equivalent, and the board of education will vote and make a final determination in a regularly scheduled, public board meeting.

• The LSA should notify nonpublic school administration of the date that the board of education will consider the matter of substantial equivalency.

• The nonpublic school should be provided an opportunity to present additional relevant materials and/or a written statement to the board of education prior to its determination.

• The LSA must provide written notification to the administration of the nonpublic school and the parents or persons in parental relationship to students attending the nonpublic school of such determination and that the students will be considered truant if they continue to attend that school.

• The board must provide a reasonable timeframe, giving due consideration to the statutory and regulatory timeframes for services to nonpublic school students, for parents or persons in parental relationship to identify and enroll their children in a different appropriate educational setting, consistent with Education Law § 3204.

• SORIS must be notified of the negative determination in a manner prescribed by the Commissioner.

• Required services to the nonpublic school and must continue until the end of the reasonable timeframe.

• Student records shall be managed consistent with section 104.2 of this Title.

Additionally, the proposed regulation requires LSAs to report the following information to SORIS by September 1, 2020 and each September 1 thereafter:

• List of all nonpublic schools within the LSA’s geographical boundaries.

• List of all nonpublic schools in LSA’s boundaries that are state-approved private special education schools, state-operated schools, and state-supported schools.

• List of all the nonpublic schools in the LSA’s boundaries that are registered high schools pursuant to 8 NYCRR 100.2(p).

• List of all the nonpublic schools that are in the LSA’s boundaries that are not state-approved private special education schools, state-supported schools, state-operated schools, or registered high schools and are subject to Commissioner’s review pursuant to Education Law § 3204(2)(ii)-(iii).

• A list of the remaining nonpublic schools identified in the LSA’s boundaries for which the LSA is responsible for making the final substantial equivalency determination.

The proposed regulation also requires that, commencing on September 1, 2024 and each September 1 thereafter, LSAs must submit an attestation that they:

• Made a final substantial equivalency determination for each nonpublic school in their geographic area subject to their final determination, and

• Forwarded a substantial equivalency recommendation to the Commissioner for each nonpublic school in their geographic area that is subject to a final determination by the Commissioner.

The proposed regulation includes procedures for the Commissioner’s determination of substantial equivalency. For nonpublic schools for which the Commissioner is required to make a final determination, the LSA must conduct a review and forward its recommendation regarding substantial equivalency and all relevant documentation to support its recommendation to the Commissioner. The proposed regulation sets forth procedures for when a school subject to a Commissioner’s determination appears not to be substantially equivalent and for when the Commissioner renders a positive or negative substantial equivalency determination. Such procedures are similar to those described above for LSAs to follow when making a final determination.

The proposed regulation provides that, when making a substantial equivalency determination, an LSA, and the Commissioner, when he/she is responsible for making the final determination, must consider the following criteria:

• Instruction given only by a competent teacher.

• English is the language of instruction for common branch subjects.

• Appropriate programs for students who have limited English proficiency.

• Accreditation materials should be taken into account if a nonpublic school has been accredited within the last five years.

• Whether the instructional program in the nonpublic school incorporates instruction in the following subjects:

o during grades 1 through 6, mathematics, including arithmetic, science, and technology; English language arts; social studies; the arts; career development and occupational studies; health education, physical education, and family and consumer sciences. Instruction in these subjects may be integrated or incorporated into the syllabus or syllabi of other courses;

o during grades 7 and 8, mathematics (two units of study); English language arts (two units of study); social studies (two units of study); science (two units of study); career and technical education, wherein the unit of study requirement may be initiated in grade 5 (one and three-fourths units of study); physical education (similar courses of instruction to those required in public schools pursuant to section 135.4 of this Title); health education (one-half unit of study); visual arts (one-half unit of study); music (one-half unit of study); library and information skills, which may in incorporated or integrated into any other subjects (the equivalent of one period per week in grades 7 and 8); career development and occupational studies, which may be incorporated or integrated into any other subjects;

o during grades 9 through 12, instruction in English (four units of study); social studies (four units of study); mathematics (three units of study); science (three units of study); health (one-half unit of study); physical education (two units of study); the arts (one unit of study);

• Whether the nonpublic school meets other statutory instructional requirements, including requirements pursuant to Education Law §§ 305(52), 801, 803(4), 804, 806, 807, 808, 3204(3), (5); and 8 NYCRR §§ 100.2(c)(1), 100.2(c)(3)-(7), 100.2(c)(11).

• Pursuant to Education Law § 3204 for nonpublic elementary and middle schools subject to a Commissioner’s final determination pursuant to Education Law § 3204(2)(ii), the LSA, when making a recommendation and the Commissioner in his/her final determination, must take into consideration whether the school’s instructional program meets the criteria set forth in Education Law § 3204(2)(ii).

• For nonpublic high schools that meet the criteria for a Commissioner’s final determination pursuant to Education Law § 3204(2)(iii), the Commissioner and the LSA making a recommendation to the Commissioner will take into consideration whether the curriculum provides academically rigorous instruction that develops critical thinking skills in the school’s students, the outcomes of which, taking into account the entirety of the curriculum, result in a sound basic education.

The proposed regulation also sets forth the rights and responsibilities of parents and persons in a parental relationship to nonpublic school students, LSAs and nonpublic school leaders related to substantial equivalency determinations.

For the full text of the regulation, please refer to our website at http://www.counsel.nysed.gov/rules/full-text-indices.

Text of proposed rule and any required statements and analyses may be obtained from:

Kirti Goswami, NYS Education Department, Office of Counsel, 89 Washington Avenue, Room 112, Albany, NY 12234, (518) 474-6400, email: legal@nysed.gov

Data, views or arguments may be submitted to:

Christina Coughlin, NY Education Department, SORIS, 89 Washington Avenue, Room 1075 EBA, Albany, NY 12234, (518) 474-7206, email:seregcomments@nysed.gov

Public comment will be received until:

60 days after publication of this notice.

This rule was not under consideration at the time this agency submitted its Regulatory Agenda for publication in the Register.

Summary of Regulatory Impact Statement (Full text is posted at the following State website: http://www.counsel.nysed.gov/rulesandregs):

1. STATUTORY AUTHORITY:

Education Law 207 grants general rule-making authority to the Board of Regents to carry into effect the laws and policies of the State relating to education.

Education Law 215 authorizes the Commissioner to require schools and school districts to submit reports containing such information as Commissioner shall prescribe.

Education Law 305(1) empowers the Commissioner of Education to be the chief executive officer of the State system of education and the Board of Regents and authorizes the Commissioner to enforce laws relating to the educational system and to execute educational policies determined by the Board of Regents. Education Law section 305(2) authorizes the Commissioner to have general supervision over all schools subject to the Education Law.

Education Law 3204(1) provides that minors required to attend upon instruction pursuant to the Compulsory Education Law may attend at a public school or elsewhere.

Education Law 3204(2) requires, among other things, that instruction may be given only be a competent teacher, English shall be the language of instruction, and that instruction in nonpublic schools must be at least substantially equivalent to the instruction given to minors of like age and attainments at the public schools. Paragraph (ii) of that section requires the Commissioner to make final substantial equivalency determinations regarding (1) nonpublic elementary and middles schools that are non-profit corporations, have a bi-lingual program, and have an educational program that extends from no later than nine a.m. until no earlier than four p.m. for grades one through three, and no earlier than five thirty p.m. for grades four through eight, on the majority of weekdays and (2) nonpublic high schools that are established for pupils in high school who have graduated from an elementary school that provides instruction as described in Education Law 3204(2), are a non-profit corporation, have a bi-lingual program, and have an educational program that extends from no later than nine a.m. until no earlier than six p.m. on the majority of weekdays.

Education Law 3204(3) provides for required courses of study in the public schools and authorizes the State Education Department to alter such required subjects of instruction.

Education Law 3205(1) requires each child of compulsory school age to attend upon full time day instruction.

Education Law section 3210(2) provides the amount and character of required attendance for nonpublic school students, with the exception that a child may be permitted to attend for a shorter school day and/or year if the instruction received has been approved by the local school authorities as being substantially equivalent in amount and quality to that required by the Compulsory Education Law.

Education Law section 3234 gives the Commissioner authority to supervise enforcement of the Compulsory Education Law by withholding public school moneys for certain failures to enforce the Compulsory Education Law.

Education in New York – Taxpayer Subsidizing Yeshiva Education Without Standards – PEARLS Statement

PEARLS: Statement on New Education Department’s Proposed Regulations

Illustration photo

As the New York Department of Education continues to attempt to establish and enforce guidelines for private schools, PEARLS, which advocates for Frum Schools in NY has released the following statement:

The regulations proposed by the State Education Department disregard the concerns expressed by more than 1,000 private schools from every segment of the nonpublic school community.

The proposed regulations disregard the long history of success demonstrated by private schools across New York State, they undermine the choices made by parents who choose private schools for their children, and they substitute the education bureaucracy in Albany for the private school leadership sought by parents and students.

The regulations proposed today are nothing more than a repackaging of the guidelines that were opposed by the entire private school community last Fall and declared null and void by the Albany Supreme Court this Spring. It is disappointing that the State Education Department failed to engage in dialogue with private school leaders prior to issuing these proposed regulations.

We remain willing to work collaboratively with the State Education Department. But we will continue to oppose SED’s attempt to impose top-down mandates on hundreds of thousands of private school children across the State. These proposed regulations will not be any more successful than the failed and rejected guidelines they replaced. We therefore urge SED to work with the private school community in a manner that respects the success, autonomy, history and purpose of private schools.

The recreation of Jewish life and learning in the United States after the destruction of the Holocaust was nothing short of miraculous. In 1944, there were two dozen Jewish schools in New York, with no more than 5000 students. Today, there are 165,000 students enrolled in more than 400 Jewish elementary and high schools in New York. State regulations cannot be allowed to hinder our mission or hamper our growth.

 

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NJ Enabling Irresponsible Budget from Wholly Unreliable Lakewood School District and its Overpriced Attorney

Lakewood schools reopen, banking on $36 million loan from NJ

LAKEWOOD – A shutdown that forced about 1,000 special education students to stay home Monday has ended and the Lakewood Public School District is open for business on the promise of a $36 million loan from the state.

The district was shuttered for a single day after the school board reversed course, unanimously voting to void a budget it had passed a week earlier to avert a shutdown. Without a budget, no money could be spent, according to school board attorney Michael Inzelbuch.

Inzelbuch blamed the shutdown on the state, but critics of the district are pushing back calling the closure a stunt.

Gov. Phil Murphy had slated an additional $30 million to go to Lakewood, but when the Legislature drafted its budget it axed the funding. District leadership refused to sign off on the $171 million budget without knowing where that $30 million would come from, saying it was necessary to provide a thorough education and balance the books.

But even without the $30 million, the district receives other revenue that it could have used to keep doors open Monday, according to David Sciarra, executive director of the Education Law Center. Among those other sources are $102 million in local tax levy and tens of millions in other state aid, according to the district’s budget.

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Lakewood, NJ – Interesting How the Board Voted to Continue Busing Yeshiva Kids to the Yeshivas – Post Shut Down

LAKEWOOD SCHOOLS SHUT DOWN WITHOUT $30M AID — REQUIRED SERVICES ONLY

LAKEWOOD — The school district shut down most operations Monday after Gov. Phil Murphy signed a budget without $30 million school officials were counting on — saying they couldn’t operate the district until a solution is found.

In an emergency meeting Monday, the district authorized funding for “only those programs mandated by the New Jersey Department of Education and required for health and safety until such time a budget is approved.”

Note: This story has been updated following the emergency board meeting. An earlier version discussed the situation as it stood before the board meeting, when all services were canceled.

The board also voted to continue its support of the Lakewood School Transportation Authority and to ensure that courtesy busing continue for public and non-public students. The LSTA had ceased to exist at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday with the lack of a budget. Those services weren’t provided on Monday, after the district warned parents depending on them to make other plans.

The board also approved continued funding for services for non-public students and those attending “schools for the disabled,” required by the superintendent and state monitor. That also includes security and access to trips, playground equipment, home instruction.

The board passed several resolutions including one that puts all non-essential staff on furlough until further notice.

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