Student Activists Virtually Lobby NY
Legislators for Nonpublic School Funding
Students from Westchester Day School speak with State Senator Shelley Mayer, Chair of Committee on Education on the Teach NYS Virtual Mission to Albany on March 22, 2022. More than 1000 student activists from 45 New York Jewish day schools and yeshivot advocated for greater funding of STEM and security programs with state legislators, and to hear from Governor Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders.
Westchester Day School students from Mamaroneck joined with the voices of 1000 Jewish yeshiva and day school students advocating for their education and schools strongly impressed NY state legislators this Tuesday, March 22. As part of the Teach NYS Virtual Mission to Albany, students from around the state spoke up for increases in the state’s investment in STEM and school security programs, just two weeks before the state budget process for the next year wraps up.
“State funding for STEM and security is essential to our children’s ability to succeed in our technology-based economy and for their everyday safety,” said Sydney Altfield. Teach NYS Grassroots Director. “Who can tell legislators that story better than the students themselves, joined by parents, teachers, and school administrators? Whether its virtual or in person, this mission, our largest ever, is critical to our advocacy work.”
The request for an increase in funding was met with strong support by Governor Kathy Hochul in her address to the students when she said, “That’s why in the executive budget, we proposed the highest level of state aid for education ever at $31 billion. It includes an 18% increase in funding for non-public schools as well as a $15 million increase in the stem reimbursement program and tripling funding for health, safety, and security projects through the Nonpublic School Safety Equipment Grant Program.”
Teach NYS advocates for quality, safe and affordable nonpublic schools. As a champion of state funding for STEM teachers, school security and other programs, it has helped deliver more than $276 million to the state’s nonpublic schools this year alone. Teach NYS is a member of the Orthodox Union’s Teach Coalition that represents 90% of Jewish day school and yeshivah students nationwide.