TEACH NYS LAUDS GOV. CUOMO’S ADDITIONAL $20 MILLION IN SECURITY FUNDING FOR NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS & DAY CAMPS; HISTORIC MOVE BRINGS TOTAL TAB TO $60 MILLION
ALBANY, New York – Teach NYS, a project of the Orthodox Union and a leading advocate for equitable funding for New York State’s nonpublic schools, lauded Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s announcement of an additional $20 million in safety and security grant funding to nonpublic schools and day camps at risk of hate crimes, bringing the total tally for security funding to $60 million.
The new funding is in addition to the $40 million approved in the FY 2020 budget in April.
“Together, with the support of our partners – including nonpublic schools, parents and even the students themselves – our community has raised our collective voice and advocated respectfully but forcefully for the necessary funding to ensure the safety of our students,” said Orthodox Union President Moishe Bane.
The Orthodox Union, through its state advocacy operation, Teach Coalition, has not only fought for this latest grant and other funding on the national, state and city levels, but has also recently hired full-time staff to provide direct assistance to schools and synagogues to help them apply for the grants.
“Feeling safe in their places of learning is every student’s universal right, and we are extremely grateful to Governor Cuomo and our legislators in the Senate and Assembly, who have taken the time to hear our concerns and calls for more funding,” said Orthodox Union Executive Vice President Allen Fagin.
“This new allocation of an additional $20 million will go a long way towards ensuring New Yorkers stay safe no matter where they are,” said Assembly Member Simcha Eichenstein. “I thank Assembly Speaker Heastie and Governor Cuomo for securing this long overdue funding. The safety and security of our children must be our number one concern. As a member of the Assembly, I have been advocating for security funding since the day I took office and I am grateful that the Governor and my Assembly colleagues recognize the significance of this funding and the difference it will make in keeping thousands of New Yorkers safe.”
Teach NYS, a division of the Orthodox Union’s Teach Coalition, was founded in 2013 to advocate for equitable government funding for New York nonpublic schools to increase security, enhance education and defray higher tuition costs. For more information, visit http://teachnys.org.