New York’s Education Department is urging lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul not to weaken oversight rules for religious and private schools in secret budget talks, amid attempts to soften academic standards, according to officials.
Some lawmakers want to slip language into the state budget that would loosen 2022 regulations requiring nonpublic schools to provide education equal to public schools. Critics, including Sen. Liz Krueger and advocacy group YAFFED, argue the move undermines years of legal and legislative work meant to protect students’ right to quality education.
Supporters of change say current rules are overly burdensome. Still, no proposal to modify the regulations has been formally included in any budget draft so far.
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