NEW YORK – Teach NYS, a division of the Orthodox Union advocating for equitable government funding for New York nonpublic schools, welcomed the inclusion of the Nonpublic School Security Reimbursement Program in the New York City adapted budget for the 2021 fiscal year.
The program, which began in 2016, sets aside about $16 million to protect nonpublic school children and made New York the first city in the country to begin to provide children in nonpublic schools with the same level of security as their peers in public schools.
“We are extremely grateful to the City of New York for heeding the call of so many and making the well-being and security of all New York City’s children a priority,” said Dan Mitzner, Director of State Political Affairs for Teach NYS. “At a time when local and state governments are under tremendous financial strain due to the pandemic, Mayor de Blasio and the New York City Council did the right thing by ensuring that security for all children is still a priority.”
“A special thank you to NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson and Education Chair Mark Treyger for successfully leading the fight to save this extraordinarily important program despite the billions of dollars in budget cuts this year. Your leadership on this matter and many others have shown that you are true partners to the Jewish community in New York.” Said Teach NYS Co-Chair, Sam Sutton. “This would not be possible without that steadfast support and partnership of Councilman Stephen Levin, Councilman Kalman Yeger and Councilman Chaim Deutsch. We are fortunate to have leadership of this caliber in our city.”
These funds, combined with other allocations, are enabling hundreds of New York City Jewish day schools to go beyond hiring security guards and to make target-hardening enhancements. For instance, in New York State, schools may be reimbursed for security equipment they purchase and other measures to secure their premises.
Teach NYS, a division of the Orthodox Union’s Teach Coalition, was founded to advocate for equitable government funding for New York nonpublic schools. It has secured additional funding for nonpublic schools, which has been used to increase security, enhance education and defray costs. Teach NYS created a first in the nation program to begin reimbursing nonpublic schools for the costs of qualified STEM instructors. In 2018, it championed a historic pilot program to begin providing Kosher and Halal meals to students enrolled in both public and nonpublic schools in New York City.