Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) expressed disappointment after the Education Investment Tax Credit (EITC) for private and parochial schools was left out of the 2016-2017 NYS budget. Although the EITC was left out, this year’s budget featured several funding allocations for the state’s independent and religious schools.

Some of the highlights of the budget include: creating a new Office of Religious and Independent Schools and devoting $2 million towards resources and grants in services of the state’s nonpublic and religious schools; increasing security grants to nonpublic schools by $30 million over the next two years, with $15 million of the allocation being allotted in 2016-17; a $60 million increase in state funding over the next two years for the Comprehensive Attendance Policy program, or CAP—which provides nonpublic schools with reimbursements for tracking and enforcing students attendance.

“I’m incredibly disappointed that EITC was not part of this year’s budget,” Assemblyman Hikind said. “My commitment, and the commitment of others, is to get the tax credit passed to help alleviate the financial burden, and to provide assistance to parents who send their children to private and parochial schools.”

Despite being disappointed in the budget results, Hikind went on to praise Agudath Israel of America and the Catholic Conference for advocating on behalf of private and parochial schools, as well as the families of nearly 400,000 students attending these schools throughout the state.

“Some fights take longer than others,” Hikind added. “Passing the Education Investment Tax Credit is about fairness to these thousands of parents. While we have done so much to aid these private and parochial schools, we are, unfortunately, not doing enough to aid the parents. I look forward to continuing this fight for equity.”

(YWN Desk – NYC)