Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York State legislative leaders announced a framework agreement that will allocate an unprecedented $250 million of new funding to the state’s non-public schools for mandated services—the largest amount ever allocated to this program. OU Advocacy-Teach NYS, the nonpartisan public policy arm of the Orthodox Union, has historically fought for funding increases to the mandated services program.
The agreement, if passed, will replace Governor Cuomo’s Parental Choice in Education Act, which would have provided $150 million in education tax credits and scholarships annually. OU Advocacy-Teach NYS, the nonpartisan public policy arm of the Orthodox Union, actively campaigned—together with UJA-Federation of New York and Agudath Israel of America and many other coalition partners—to support the education tax credit bill.
“While we are disappointed that our lawmakers turned down the education tax credit bill, which would have incentivized hundreds of millions in donations to our schools, we are grateful for this historic level of funding for non-public school education. The mandated services program is a key funding source that helps non-public schools meet their bottom lines. We welcome this new funding,” said Allen Fagin, Executive Vice President and CEO of the Orthodox Union.