Judge Halts NY Education Department’s Ruling on Three Brooklyn Yeshivas Violating Law
In a significant legal decision, a state judge has temporarily exempted three Brooklyn yeshivas from immediate repercussions for failing to meet state educational standards. This ruling follows a lawsuit brought about by recent modifications to government oversight of religious schools in New York. The yeshivas in question are Yeshiva Mosdos Chasidei Square Boro Park, Yeshiva Mosdos Chasidei Square of Williamsburg, and Yeshiva Torah V’Yirah Bais Rochel.
Justice Denise Hartman of an Albany trial court issued a temporary restraining order that suspends the enforcement of final determinations made by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) against these institutions. In recent years, the NYSED has intensified its scrutiny of educational quality in non-public schools, especially as part of broader efforts to ensure compliance with state mandates.
State education officials asserted that these yeshivas have not cooperated with regulatory efforts for nearly a decade. According to a spokesperson for NYSED, there has been no indication from these schools that they intend to implement a curriculum providing essential education in subjects such as English language arts, mathematics, science, or social studies. The spokesperson criticized the lawsuit as a means to enable these non-compliant institutions to receive state and federal funding without any oversight, thereby risking the educational future of their students.
Reports indicate that several yeshivas have minimal secular instruction in their curricula, leaving graduates ill-equipped for adult life in a complex society. Earlier in the year, six yeshivas were informed by state authorities that they no longer qualified as legitimate schools under state law. Parents were advised to seek alternative educational arrangements, and these institutions were informed they would lose access to public funding.
The controversy has reignited a long-standing debate in New York regarding the government’s role in regulating religious education. In response to public outcry, Governor Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers made efforts to provide additional pathways for yeshivas to comply with educational requirements, incorporating these changes into the state budget passed in May.
Despite the governor’s office not providing immediate comments on the ruling, court documents disclose that NYSED continues to assert that non-compliant yeshivas should not be allowed to use recent legislative changes as a defense. The attorney representing the yeshivas contested this interpretation, seeking a court intervention to uphold the interests of families associated with these institutions who have cultivated long-standing relationships with their staff.
Advocates for yeshiva reform criticized the temporary order, arguing that it undermines essential enforcement measures. They assert that the state’s actions were necessary to protect the right of children to receive a sound and basic education, emphasizing that safeguarding educational quality is crucial to ensure that students are prepared to thrive in today’s society. The ongoing legal battles and legislative changes highlight the contentious intersection between education, religion, and state oversight in New York.
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