The proposed state budget will have an impact on many sectors of Israeli society, including chareidim. Following are some of the new realities facing the chareidi community if the current version of the state budget is approved.

Chareidi schools that are ‘recognized’ by the Ministry of Education and therefore enjoy state funding will no longer receive aid unless they comply with new regulations. This will compel the schools to allocate 55% of educational hours for ‘core subjects’ in line with the curriculum of state public schools. In addition, students will have to take state achievement tests as is the case with public schools. Any school that fails to comply will no longer receive any government funding.

In addition, funding for Chinuch Atzmai and Shas’ Mayan HaChinuch will be cut by 25%. They will only receive 75% of the budget given to other schools around the country and they too will have to agree to take part in achievement tests and meet criteria or forfeit their funding. It should be pointed out that Chinuch Atzmai schools already take the achievement tests, leading some askanim to point out this is “just an excuse to take money from their budget, nothing more.”

The funding for yeshiva ketanos, which today is 60% of the regular budget per student, will be in half cut to 30%. These schools will have to allocate 30% of the education hours for core subjects. Failure to include core subjects will most likely result in reduced funding.

The Arrangements Law included in the budget calls for eliminating the Nahari Law which compels local government to take part in school funding for non-public schools. Ministry officials explain they feel this law results in boosting the private schools at the expense of the nation’s public school system. If local government allocates funds to private schools and not public schools it leads to an incentive for parents to enroll their children in private schools and ministry officials oppose this.

The proposed budget will also impact seminaries and those not granting an academic diploma or an equivalent will lose state funding. In addition, a ceiling will be set into place setting a maximum number for girls certifying as teachers for approved mosdos as is done outside the chareidi system. According to reports, that number has dropped from 18,000 to 2,500 students. The proposed budget also calls to eliminate all funding for programs that provide dual certification for girls, as teaching certification alongside another profession.

The proposed bill also addresses families seeking a reduction in arnona property tax. If passed, only families in which both parents work may apply for reduction. This will hold true regarding eligibility for reductions in daycare and kindergarten tuitions as well. That means if one of the parents is not working, a couple is not longer eligible for discounts. The parents needn’t work full time, but they must reach 125% to become eligible to apply for a discount.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)