Establishment Clause Challenge To New York's Carve Out of Standards For Yeshivas

A lawsuit was filed in a New York federal district court yesterday challenging the so-called Felder Amendment to New York state's 2018 Budget Bill. The Amendment, tailored to apply only to Orthodox Jewish non-public schools, allows lower secular education standards in such schools.  The complaint (full text) in Young Advocates for Fair Education v. Cuomo, (ED NY, filed 7/23/2018), contends that the Felder Amendment violates the Establishment Clause by aiding ultra-Orthodox Jewish non-public schools and entangling the government with religion. Wall Street Journal reports on the lawsuit. [Thanks to Steven H. Sholk for the lead.]

In UK, Proposed Counter Extremism Bill Will Include Provisions Aimed At Unregistered Orthodox Jewish High Schools

The Independent reported Saturday that a Counter Extremism Bill being drafted by Britain's Home Office will contain new provisions aimed at unregistered Orthodox Jewish high schools which educate boys only in religious subjects.  Classes are taught in Yiddish. Former pupils have alleged that physical beatings are common and teachers often encourage students to enter arranged marriages at age 18.  Some students leave school unable to speak English. The schools serve the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community of north London.  Apparently Hackney Council officials have been aware of the schools for several years, but cooperated with religious schools to destroy records of students disappearing from the rolls of registered schools.  Britain's Department of Education says it is intensifying investigations into unregistered schools. The new focus by the government apparently stemmed from a report published in April by The Independent. [Thanks to Law & Religion UK for the lead.]

Lawsuits Seek To Reform Curriculum of Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Schools

The Jerusalem Post yesterday reported at length on lawsuits in New York state and Quebec, Canada to force ultra-Orthodox Jewish schools to meet government-mandated secular curriculum standards. The suit in New York was brought by Naftuli Moster, founder of YAFFED (Young Advocates For Fair Education), while the suit in Quebec was brought by Yochanan Lowen, a former member of the Satmar hassidic community. In an article last month, the New York Times reported on the issue from the perspective of Mr. Moster.  The issue has also been a heated one in Belgium where educational authorities are pressing Orthodox Jewish school on the content of their secular curriculum.