The New York State budget recently passed with historic funding allocations for nonpublic schools, including yeshivas and Jewish day schools in New York. The budget includes $470 million for nonpublic school funding, an increase of $90 million from the previous year, and specifically increased the STEM allocation from $73 million to $75.5 million. In a year where security was a major advocacy focus for schools, the state legislature made a point to invest in STEM funding, ensuring that schools will keep investing in the education of all students.
This funding has enabled yeshivas and Jewish day schools such as Torah Academy for Girls (TAG) to expand their STEM curriculum to include robotics and engineering for middle and high school students. “The STEM funding has really helped us grow and ensure that we’re able to teach the next generation of students,” says Chesky Newman, parent and board member of TAG.
Newman says TAG parents are thrilled that the school can provide such a rigorous STEM curriculum. The best part? This funding is enhancing education without costing parents a dime.
Students are responding positively to the enhanced programming as well. “Interest in STEM has really expanded over the years in direct connection to the funding we’ve received and has allowed us to implement some new programs,” Newman adds.
The program impacts schools’ bottom line – teacher salaries – and the results are clear: schools are experiencing higher teacher retention than in previous years.
The continuity of this funding is thanks to the strong advocacy efforts of Teach NYS, who helped champion this first-in-nation program into existence in 2017. Legislators recognized the importance of STEM education for yeshivas and Jewish day schools in their districts and responded to the collective call for funding.
“New York legislators recognize the importance of a well-rounded education regardless of whether students attend public or nonpublic schools,” says Newman.
In addition to this incredible funding, new Teach NYS partnerships have emerged to offer Master’s in Ed degrees for STEM teachers at participating member schools. Teachers can now earn subsidized graduate degrees through SUNY Empire, Gratz College, and most recently, Touro University. The MEd programs will cost from under $10,000 to $13,000 each, representing a savings of up to 54% off the regular tuition price, depending on the teacher’s chosen program.
The program benefits participating schools as well, since employing member schools will qualify for a partial salary reimbursement from NYSED’s STEM program for each teacher that graduates from any of these programs. Many employing schools will finance these degrees for their STEM teachers. In return, they will collect annual partial salary reimbursements—ranging from $20,000 to $45,000—for each teacher, enhancing education offerings while bringing in additional revenue.
For more information about this program, visit www.teachcoalition.org/mastersprograms.
