Agudath: Exclusion of religious schools “makes no sense”

Agudath Israel of America is upset that the House economic stimulus package is inequitable in its treatement of nonpublic schools. The group has put out a release noting that the funds earmarked toward modernizing schools would not allow religious schools to benefit, which Washington director and counsel Rabbi Abba Cohen says "makes no sense," particularly, he said, because religious schools have been participants in such programs in the past. The Orthodox Union has leveled a similar criticism at the legisation. Here’s Agudath’s  full release:

As the U.S. Congress considers President Barack Obama’s Economic Stimulus Package, Agudath Israel of America’s Washington Office is sending a clear message to members of both the Senate and House of Representatives, urging lawmakers to “provide the full measure of federal education assistance to all schoolchildren,” including those in nonpublic schools like Jewish day schools and yeshivos.

In advocating this message, Washington Director and Counsel Rabbi Abba Cohen is focusing on two aspects of the proposed legislation.  One concerns several programs aimed at modernizing, renovating or repairing educational institutions to ensure that they are safe, healthy, high-performing and technologically up to date.  As currently drafted, the provision effectively excludes the entire gamut of religious educational institutions – day schools to yeshivos gedolos – from receiving any benefits – a lapse that Rabbi Cohen contends “simply makes no sense.”

“The goal of these programs” he explains, “is to help address our nation’s economic crisis with an eye to enhancing the health and safety of students, the technological proficiency of their educational environments and access for the disabled at schools.”  Not only is there no reason nonpublic schools should be excluded, the Agudath Israel representative notes, “but religious schools have participated in similar programs in the past.”

The second area addressed by the Agudath Israel communication is a proposed “State Fiscal Stabilization Fund” (SFSF) intended to bolster services at elementary and secondary schools.  Permissible uses for the fund include activities authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act – all programs whose “equitable participation” clauses require that nonpublic schools receive their fair share of federal services and funding.  But the proposed SFSF fails to clearly state that nonpublic schools would be eligible, like their public school counterparts, to benefit from the fund. This, it is feared, might provide an opening for limiting their eligibility.

Agudath Israel’s lobbying on these issues has encompassed both oral and written communications and, because of its high priority, the organization has mobilized its national network of grassroots activists to assist the Washington Office in its efforts.  Rabbi Cohen has also been working closely with the Council for American Private Education, the United States Catholic Conference and the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations.

While the legislation passed the House without the desired changes, action now moves over to the Senate, which appears more amenable to the proposed amendments.  In any event, a conference committee is expected to be convened to iron out differences between the bills and passage is not projected until the President’s Day break.  This leaves several weeks, and numerous opportunities, for additional advocacy.

Rabbi Cohen extended his offer to the members of both House and Senate “to work with you and your staff[s] to craft amendments that would effectively address these issues.”