New York Issues Regulations For Review Of Religious Schools' Curricula

On Nov. 20, the New York State Education Department issued guidelines for Substantial Equivalency Review of the curriculum of non-public religious and independent schools (full text), along with related materials.  As reported by The Forward:

The regulations come years into a growing controversy over whether New York’s Hasidic yeshivas are providing education that is substantially equivalent to that offered in public schools, as is required by state law....

The guidelines ... are based on a controversial law passed as part of last summer’s budget deal.... The new law says that the state education commissioner, rather than local school districts, will determine equivalency for schools that meet certain criteria that were drawn only to include Hasidic yeshivas.

(See prior related posting.)

New York Budget Bill Passed With Special Curriculum Criteria For Yeshivas

On Monday, the New York legislature sent to Governor Andrew Cuomo for his signature the state Budget for the 2018-2019 fiscal year (S07059) (full text).  As described in detail by New York Jewish Week, the bill contains provisions (at pp. 194-195 of bill) designed to lower the secular curriculum requirements for  Orthodox Jewish yeshivas whose long school days emphasize religious study.  The New York Times explains the politics behind inclusion of the provision, and the varied interpretations of its impact on curriculum standards for such schools.