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    Office of Jewish Education Policy and Research (OJEPR)

    We research trends in yeshivas and Jewish day schools in the United States,
    supporting Teach Coalition in developing initiatives that cater to our communities’ needs.

    research

    Featured Studies See all

    Enrollment Trends in Florida Jewish Schools, 2007-08 to 2022-23
    Florida’s Jewish schools are growing at a rapid, historic,...
    Read More
    Enrollment Trends in New York Jewish Schools, 2000-2021
    Enrollment in New York yeshivas and Jewish day schools...
    Read More
    Taxpayer Savings from NJ Nonpublic Schools
    May 2022 Nonpublic schools save the government considerable money...
    Read More
    The Benefits of Jewish Nonpublic Schools to New York State
    Nonpublic schools are a major component of the nation’s...
    Read More
    Enrollment Trends in Florida Jewish Schools, 2007-08 to 2022-23
    Florida’s Jewish schools are growing at a rapid, historic,...
    Read More
    Enrollment Trends in New York Jewish Schools, 2000-2021
    Enrollment in New York yeshivas and Jewish day schools...
    Read More
    Taxpayer Savings from NJ Nonpublic Schools
    May 2022 Nonpublic schools save the government considerable money...
    Read More
    The Benefits of Jewish Nonpublic Schools to New York State
    Nonpublic schools are a major component of the nation’s...
    Read More
    Enrollment Trends in Florida Jewish Schools, 2007-08 to 2022-23
    Florida’s Jewish schools are growing at a rapid, historic,...
    Read More
    Enrollment Trends in New York Jewish Schools, 2000-2021
    Enrollment in New York yeshivas and Jewish day schools...
    Read More

    Meet The Team

    Gabriel Aaronson
    Director for Policy and Research

    Gabe Aaronson grew up in a military family, moving over 20 times and living in over 10 different states. He attended Jewish day schools in Binghamton, New York; Dallas, Texas; Silver Spring, Maryland; and Baltimore, Maryland.

    Gabe studied for a year in Yeshivat Ohr Yerushalayim in Israel, and went on to earn his B.A. in Political Science from Touro College. After delivering his valedictorian address to the class of 2009, Gabe returned to Baltimore to obtain his M.A. in Public Policy from Johns Hopkins University.
    Upon graduating, Gabe’s first job was at the Orthodox Union’s Institute for Public Affairs during the inception of Teach Coalition. Gabe worked closely with Maury Litwack and the state political directors to define Teach Coalition’s winning policy and advocacy approach.

    Gabe moved to Philadelphia for two-and-a-half years while his wife studied at University of Pennsylvania. While there, Gabe served as Office Manager for the Jewish Heritage Programs, an affiliate of Chabad on Campus.

    Gabe then moved to the DC area and worked in both the FDA and the DoD doing compliance, IT, and process improvement work. While there, Gabe worked on the side as a journalist for the newly-minted Kol Habirah local newspaper. His articles covered a broad range of local Jewish interests, but often focused on day school and tuition affordability issues. Gabe also released a 50-page report on historical trends in Jewish day school enrollment in Maryland—the first of its kind in the U.S.

    In February 2020, Gabe rejoined the Teach Coalition family as a grants and systems specialist. He helps schools and synagogues navigate and participate in government programs, and is heading several research and process improvement initiatives within Teach.

    In his spare time, Gabe likes to read, play video games, and write Data Governance Policies for U.S. government agencies. He lives in Pardes Hanna, Israel with his wife and three children.

    Read more
    Tzvi Kiwala
    Data Analyst

    Before joining Teach Coalition, Tzvi worked as a space manager for the US Social Security Administration, where he managed interior planning and construction for the SSA headquarters in Woodlawn, MD. He then worked as a Quantity Surveyor on public and private construction projects throughout Israel before joining Teach Coalition as a Data Analyst for its newly formed Office of Jewish Education Policy and Research (OJEPR).

    As data analyst, Tzvi’s work focuses on research and analysis of a broad range of critical data such as school enrollment, tuition, and government funding awards. This information gives us a deep understanding of prevailing trends in day schools and where best to focus our efforts on advocating for yeshivas and Jewish day schools.

    Tzvi received his B.A. in Architecture from the City College of New York, and his Master’s in Construction Management from Florida International University. A native New Yorker and former resident of Baltimore, he currently resides in Pardes Hanna, Israel with his wife and their three children.

    research

    Research See all

    The Benefits of Jewish Nonpublic Schools to New York State
    Research
    10 Sep 2024
    Nonpublic schools are a major component of the nation’s K-12 educational systems. This is particularly true in New York State, where roughly 1,700 nonpublic schools (both secular and religious) educate over 402,000 students. Not only do these schools educate...
    Read More
    Enrollment Trends in Florida Jewish Schools, 2007-08 to 2022-23
    Blogs
    15 Aug 2024
    Florida’s Jewish schools are growing at a rapid, historic, and accelerating clip. The widespread and now universal availability of Florida’s school choice scholarships are a major factor, as is a major influx of Jewish families from New York in...
    Read More
    Update on NYS Jewish School Enrollment, 2023-24
    Blogs
    19 May 2024
    On May 14, 2024 the New York State Education Department released updated enrollment data for New York nonpublic schools. This data reflects the enrollment taken on October 1, 2023 for the 2023-2024 school year. Overall Nonpublic Enrollment. In October...
    Read More
    Report: The Cost of Securing Jewish Schools, Before and After October 7
    Research
    08 Jan 2024
    Executive Summary. After Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, Teach Coalition surveyed its member schools about their security spending. Based on responses from 75 schools enrolling 10% of Jewish students in New York, New Jersey, and Florida, we conclude...
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    Nonpublic School Funding Dashboard – 2023 Edition
    Research
    07 Sep 2023
    Nonpublic Schools Program Dashboard – 2023 A downloadable dashboard of all nonpublic school funding programs in each state, updated for the 2023-24 school year. Funding categories include Bussing, Nursing, Scholarships, Security funding, In-Kind Support, and Other Support.  
    Read More
    Enrollment Trends in New York Jewish Schools, 2000-2021
    Enrollment Trends
    10 Aug 2023
    Enrollment in New York yeshivas and Jewish day schools has grown tremendously since the turn of the century, from 104,797 students in 2000 to 177,252 in 2021 – a 69% increase over the two decades. However, growth over the...
    Read More