Private and parochial schools across the North Shore are objecting to proposed regulations by the New York State Education Department that may require them to answer to their local public schools in matters of curriculum.
The proposed regulations would require local authorities from the nearest public school district to review nonpublic schools in their area and determine if they are “at least substantially equivalent” to state standards. Should the local officials judge a nonpublic school as “not substantially equivalent,” then the public official would work with the school, according to the regulation proposal.
“If there are concerns about the substantial equivalency of the instruction, the proposed regulation recommends, among other things, that the LSA [local school authority] and nonpublic school work collaboratively to develop a clear plan and timeline, including benchmarks and targets, for attaining substantial equivalency in an amount of time that is reasonable given the concerns identified,” a summary of the proposed text from the New York State Register reads.
The regulations come after investigations into concerns from “parents, former students and former teachers” at 44 yeshivas in New York City and in East Ramapo upstate in 2015, according to a letter to the Regents Board’s P-12 Education Committee from former state Education Commissioner Elizabeth Berlin.
Complaints alleged that students were not receiving secular education that met requirements for substantially equivalent instruction, and provided a catalyst for an investigation that led to the proposed regulations.
Nonpublic schools on the North Shore argue that the regulations go against their missions as independent schools.
Lynda Bekoe, the director of communications for the Vincent Smith School in Port Washington, which serves students with learning difficulties such as ADHD and dyslexia, said: “If the parents were getting their needs met in their schools, we would be out of business, and the very people who cannot meet their needs are the ones who will be overseeing our curriculum. So there’s this conflict beyond interest, a complete dichotomy of logic there.”
Vincent Smith School is accredited by the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS), and various other independent schools across the island are accredited by organizations such as the Middle States Association.
Dr. Jesse Dougherty, head of school at the Green Vale School in Old Brookville, also accredited by NYSAIS, said, “Fair and impartial reviews, such as the thorough NYSAIS accreditation our school undergoes every few years, are highly rigorous and better aligned with the academic goals and values of our students and families.”
While no public hearing is scheduled, the Department of Education is accepting public comments through Sunday.
Kristin Lynch Graham, president of Sacred Heart Academy in Hempstead, wrote a letter to the students, parents and alumnae of her school, posted to Facebook on Monday, summarizing the regulations and urging readers to write public comments before the public comment period ends.
“Ultimately, it authorizes the public school district to determine whether [Sacred Heart Academy] would be able to operate,” Graham wrote. “Hopefully, the Board of Regents will hear our concern and the regulations will not go into effect.”
Graham declined to make further comments and deferred to the Catholic School Administrators Association of New York State (CSAANYS), which she said in her letter is “pursuing this matter and appealing this regulation.” The association did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The State Board of Regents is expected to vote on the final regulation at a meeting on Oct. 7 to 8. If it passes, it would go into effect on Oct. 23.
St. Aidan’s School in Williston Park and St. Thomas the Apostle School in West Hempstead deferred comment to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre, which in turn deferred to the New York State Catholic Conference.
Jim Cultrara, director of education for the conference and executive secretary of the New York State Council of Catholic School Superintendents, criticized the regulations in a statement to Blank Slate Media.
“Catholic school parents can be confident that their Catholic schools meet and exceed academic expectations, but we cannot accept local public school districts being put in a position to evaluate our schools and determine whether they can in effect continue to operate,” Cultrara said. “We’re working with lawmakers and the Board of Regents to develop alternate pathways for schools to demonstrate their academic success.”
Buckley Country Day School in Roslyn, St. Mary’s High School in Manhasset, Notre Dame School in New Hyde Park, St. Peter of Alcantara School in Port Washington, North Shore Hebrew Academy and Silverstein Hebrew Academy in Great Neck, the Waldorf School of Garden City and St. Anne’s School in Garden City, St. Brigid/Our Lady of Hope Regional School and Westbury Friends School in Westbury, Whispering Pines School and Holy Child Academy in Old Westbury, the Henry Viscardi School at the Viscardi Center in Albertson, and Chaminade High School in Mineola were all unavailable for comment.
