Teach NYS, a project of the Orthodox Union, brought New York Majority Leader John Flanagan to the Hebrew Academy of Five Towns and Rockaway on Friday, June 2 to thank him for his tireless support for nonpublic school education.

Leader Flanagan was a driving force in the New York State Senate in support of the historic STEM program, which begins to reimburse nonpublic schools for math and science teachers. In total, the New York legislature and Gov. Cuomo provided nearly $300 million for New York nonpublic schools in this year’s budget in late April at the urging of Teach NYS.

Leader Flanagan also engaged the fifth to eight grade students in a model legislative session to teach them about how state government works.

“Our primary obligation in the state of New York is public and nonpublic education,” Leader Flanagan said. “As a father of three children, I care very deeply about the quality, the opportunity, and the access for all kids of all kinds of different faiths. I’m so proud of the work we did in the legislature this year to provide funding for nonpublic schools like HAFTR, including the historic STEM program to help schools hire quality math and science teachers.

“We still have a lot of work to do to eliminate the disparity in funding for nonpublic schools, but we are making so much progress because of the support of organizations like Teach NYS and the teachers, parents, and students on the ground who fight for the education their community deserves.”

“We are so grateful for Leader Flanagan’s time and support for nonpublic schools, including Jewish day schools and yeshivas,” said Jake Adler, director of government affairs for Teach NYS. “Leader Flanagan has been a true friend to the nonpublic school community since day one, and we would not have been successful in Albany without his tireless support.”

(YWN Headquarters – NYC)