Yeshiva reformers sue Governor Hochul and state lawmakers over delays in implementing secular studies in Yeshivas.

Yeshiva reform advocates are pursuing legal action against New York Governor Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders regarding recent amendments that diminish state oversight of ultra-Orthodox Jewish educational institutions. The announcement of the lawsuit came on Thursday, indicating a significant escalation in a long-standing debate over educational standards within these religious schools.

The contested amendment was introduced during the final stages of state budget negotiations, effectively halting a compliance program proposed by the New York State Education Department. This program aimed to ensure that private and religious schools, including yeshivas, provide a curriculum roughly equivalent to that of public schools, covering essential subjects such as American history, civics, and science.

The lawsuit, now filed in Brooklyn Supreme Court, contends that Governor Hochul, along with State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, have violated the rights of students to receive a sound basic education. The legal representatives for the Hasidic families involved assert that the actions taken by the state’s leadership are detrimental to tens of thousands of students by excusing these institutions from adhering to fundamental educational requirements.

Leading this legal effort is Michael Rebell, a distinguished education lawyer known for his role in the landmark “Campaign for Fiscal Equity” case that reformed New York’s school funding formula. The reformers argue that recent legislative actions enable yeshivas to significantly reduce secular instruction, thereby perpetuating cycles of unemployment and dependence on state assistance among ultra-Orthodox Jewish students.

Critics assert that the changes in policy set a troubling precedent, allowing yeshivas up to eight years to comply with educational standards. They further argue that this extended timeframe serves no public purpose other than to benefit a select group of institutions previously identified as non-compliant. The modified requirements permit yeshivas to demonstrate compliance simply by administering certain exams, which do not include assessments of history and civics, thereby falling short of ensuring accountability for educational outcomes.

This lawsuit is being brought forth in collaboration with the Youth Advocacy & Policy Lab at Harvard University and the well-regarded law firm Quinn Emanuel. Additionally, the Young Advocates for Fair Education (YAFFED), a prominent advocacy group for yeshiva reform, joins in support of the legal claim.

Advocates maintain that every child deserves the right to a comprehensive education, emphasizing the pressing need to uphold educational standards for all students, particularly those in Hasidic and Haredi communities. This case could potentially hold broader implications for educational policy and oversight within the state.