Jewish Group: NY Private School Regulations Threaten Freedom

A proposed regulation expanding oversight of private schools by the New York Department of Education has set up a clash between the state government and the state's Orthodox Jewish community, who see the proposal as an attack on religious freedom . Earlier this year, state education officials released a proposal requiring private schools to provide "substantially equivalent instruction" to the public school system. The proposal would substantially increase the amount of state oversight of private schools while tightening curriculum requirements. In order to comply with the regulation, a school would be required either to obtain accreditation from an outside group or administer state-approved exams. Noncompliant schools would face regular reviews from local school districts.