Government Funding and Advocacy

The Jewish Education Project provides integral support for more than 160,000 students in over 400 New York Day Schools, to navigate and access government resources. Our three primary work areas are (links will jump you down the page):


FEDERAL FUNDED PROGRAMS:

ESEA (Elementary and Secondary Education Act) as amended by ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act)

The Jewish Education Project helps ensure that Jewish schools receive their proportional amount of funds and equitable services under ESSA. In New York City, Jewish Ed Project also plays a direct role in notifying schools of their allocated funds. We facilitate and coordinate their requests for professional development, student support, and educational materials. In counties outside of the Five Boroughs, schools must contact their Local Educational Agency (LEA)/ District Office for their allocations.

ESSA includes provisions governing equitable services for eligible private school students, teachers and other educational personnel, and families. In addition to direct student services, in the 2015-16 school year, 11,000 NYC day school teachers and school leaders attended more than 3,000 professional development sessions funded at $11.4 million.


Title I, Part A: Improving the academic achievement of the disadvantaged: improving basic programs operated by LEAs

In the 15-16 school year, 11,000 students in 135 NYC day schools benefited from Title I services. Title I funds are used to supplement existing core educational programs by providing direct instructional and other services to students who live in Title I poverty zones and have not met educational standards in a particular school year. Teachers of Title I students may also receive professional development.


Title II, Part A: Preparing, Training, and Recruiting High-quality Teachers, Principals, and other School Leaders: Supporting effective instruction state grants  

In the 15-16 school year, 148 schools held on site professional development. All schools receive a direct allocation which may be used to create local programs for teachers and school leaders to improve their teaching and instructional leadership skills. Additionally, region-wide learning opportunities are offered to all teachers.

The Jewish Education Project facilitates a fully funded Master’s Degree in School Building Leadership. As of August 2017, 3 cohorts will have graduated raising the skill level and professionalism  of 60 Jewish school leaders.


These are new programs in ESSA that have not yet been funded.

Title IV, Part A: 21st Century Schools: Student support and academic enrichment grants

Title IV, Part B: 21st Century Schools: 21st Century Community Learning Centers


Related Resources:

 

 

NEW YORK STATE FUNDED PROGRAMS

Non-Public schools in New York State, including Jewish day schools, benefit from an array of state funded reimbursement and aid programs. The Jewish Education Project works with New York State Education Department on the design and implementation of key programs, and disseminates timely notifications for day schools to apply and/or comply with these programs.  General information for New York State nonpublic schools can be found at State Office of Religious and Independent Schools-SORIS.

  • Mandated Services Aid and Comprehensive Attendance Policy (CAP): Non-Public schools receive cash reimbursements for the state mandates that they have met in the prior school year (July 1 to June 30).  In order to receive reimbursement, the school must have met the requirements of the mandate and have documentation to support it.

  • Loan Programs: Non-Public school students are eligible for material loans of textbooks, software, library, and hardware. Allocations are appropriated by the state legislature on an annual basis. Schools apply for materials through their local education agency/district office.

  • Transportation: New York State Education Law requires all non-city districts to provide transportation for pupils enrolled in kindergarten through grades 8 who live more than two miles from the school they attend and for pupils enrolled in grades 9-12 who live more than three miles from the school they attend up to a distance of fifteen miles. City school districts and the city portion of enlarged city school districts are not required to provide transportation, except for suitable transportation for children with handicapping conditions. These districts may, however, by a majority vote of the board of education, opt to provide transportation. In NYC, public school officials must notify administrators of Non-Public schools, by June 1st, regarding transportation for the following year. General information can be found here. For schools outside of NYC, please contact your LEA District office. For NYC inquiries, please contact Rabbi Moshe Ausfresser, Liaison for Jewish schools at NYC Office of Pupil Transportation, 718-482-3863/718-758-7618 or mausfresser@schools.nyc.gov.

  • Special Education Services: Parents must request special education services in writing to the school district in which their child’s nonpublic school is located. New York State  Education Law requires that parentally placed nonpublic students must be provided services based on need and the same range of services provided by the district to its public school students.  Click here for more information.

  • Contact Shay Cohen for more information about NY State Funded Programs. 

 

 

FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL REPRESENTATION AND ADVOCACY

The Jewish Education Project represents and advocates for more than 160,000 Jewish day school students on many government councils including:

  • United States Department of Education National Private School Leadership,

  • New York State Education Department Commissioner’s Advisory Council for Nonpublic Schools,

  • New York State Coalition of Independent and Religious Schools,

  • New York State Education Department Committee of Practitioners,

  • New York State Regents’ Technology Policy and Practices Council,

  • New York State Education Department Mandated-Services Working Group,

  • New York City Department of Education Committee of Religious School Officials,

  • New York City Council of Independent and Religious School Officials,

  • New York City Department of Education Nonpublic School Special Education subcommittee, and

  • New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.