NEW CITY, NY – On Friday, August 23rd, YAFFED (Young Advocates for Fair Education) held a press conference on the steps of the Rockland County Court House urging members of the public to submit comments to the New York State Education Department (NYSED) in support of new “substantial equivalency” regulations.

They were joined by Rockland County Deputy County Executive Guillermo Rosa, Assemblyman Ken Zebrwoski, Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffe, and Senator Carlucci sent a staff member in support of the legislation that will aim to ensure every child in Hasidic and ultra-Orthodox yeshivas receives the education to which they are entitled under state law.

New York State’s substantial equivalency statute, enacted over a century ago, requires all nonpublic schools in New York to provide a general studies curriculum that is “at least substantially equivalent to that of public schools.”

YAFFED, was founded in 2012 by graduates of Hasidic and ultra-Orthodox yeshivas, and has urged state and city officials to enforce “substantial equivalency” standards in private schools. (members pictured below) View photos from the press conference below.

The public comment period ends on September 2, 2019. You can submit your comment – HERE.