vital information: Fwd: News From Agudah 9 Adar 2 5784, March 19, 2024

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Fwd: News From Agudah 9 Adar 2 5784, March 19, 2024

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: The Agudah <news@agudah.org>
Date: Tue, Mar 19, 2024, 4:06 PM
Subject: News From Agudah 9 Adar 2 5784, March 19, 2024
To: <agentemes4@gmail.com>

March 19, 2024 - 9 Adar 2 5784

In today's News from Agudah: School Choice in New Jersey?! See below for more; new special education Navigator program in New York City; hisorirus on Taanis Esther for women and high school girls, and - new for this year! - the Yahalom Purim guide.

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Agudath Israel Welcomes Introduction of the New Jersey Student Support Act

Agudath Israel of America's New Jersey office enthusiastically welcomes the introduction of the New Jersey Student Support Act in the New Jersey legislature.

Under the proposed bill, donors to a nonprofit scholarship organization chosen by the state will receive a dollar for dollar state tax credit and the money raised will be distributed to eligible children to attend the private school of their choice.

Agudath Israel of America has long been an advocate for similar policies on the state and federal levels and has worked with partners and legislative leaders to enact and implement such programs across the country.

Continued below, or click here to read more

Agudath Israel Launches Special Education Navigator Program for NYC

Obtaining special education services can be a confusing, draining, and overwhelming process. With hundreds of Jewish schools within the borders of New York City, the Jewish representatives on the Committee of NYC Religious and Independent School Officials recognized the need to help parents and schools navigate the complicated steps of applying for and receiving special education services. The New York City Department of Education (DOE) Office of Non-Public and Charter Schools authorized the allocation of available Title funds to create such a program, aptly called "Navigator."

The New York City DOE partnered with a number of Jewish organizations to coordinate guidance for the Jewish schools and their parent bodies in each region of the city. Agudath Israel of America's Yeshiva Services Department, in collaboration with FACTS Education Solutions and with the significant assistance of the Jewish Education Project, was assigned the regions of Borough Park and Flatbush. Mrs. Toba Lichtenstein was hired to work as the representative to the schools and parents in these regions.

Continued below or click here for more

Tehillim and Hisorirus on Taanis Esther for Women and High School Girls

Attention women and high school girls:

Please join us for Tehillim and hisorirus on Taanis Esther. Hear an inspiring speech from Mrs. Sara Isaacson, principal, Binas Bais Yaakov.

March 21, 2024, at 12:00 pm EDT

Call 641-715-3800, access code 937120#, prompt 3.

Download Yahalom's New Purim Guide

Dear Yahalom Family,

We are in the special month of Adar. It is a time of hope and happiness for us and all of Klal Yisroel. While Adar and Purim are full of joy, we know that it can be a uniquely challenging time for our children with special needs.

To this end, we have put together a Purim Guide with suggestions to empower you, our unbelievable parents and families. This is a collection of thoughts and ideas from the people who know best how to make Purim amazing - parents who have been there and done this!

Click here to download the guide

Agudath Israel Welcomes Introduction of the New Jersey Student Support Act, continued:

"Parents in New Jersey have waited long enough," said Rabbi A.D. Motzen, Agudath Israel of America's national director of government affairs. "We thank the bill sponsors and urge all legislators to support this common sense policy."

"Agudath Israel recognizes the tireless efforts of New Jersey Assemblyman Avi Schnall (D-Lakewood) who has invested countless hours in bringing this bill to its current form," said Rabbi Shlomo Schorr, director of legislative affairs for Agudath Israel of America's New Jersey Office. "We look forward to working with parents, school leaders, policy makers and other education advocates, particularly TeachNJ and United Education of New Jersey (UENJ) in the coming months."

In addition, Agudath Israel gives a tremendous thank you to the bill's prime sponsors Senator Vin Gopal, Senator Joe Lagana, Assemblywoman Lisa Swain, Assemblyman Gary Schaer, and Assemblyman Reverend Reginald Atkins.

Agudath Israel would also like to thank the bill's co-sponsors Senator Paul Sarlo, Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin, Assemblywoman Margie Donlon, Assemblywoman Luanne Peterpaul, Assemblyman Robert Karabinchak, Assemblyman Julio Marenco, Assemblywoman Rosy Bagolie and Assemblyman Chris Tully.

Agudath Israel Launches Special Education Navigator Program for NYC, continued:

Mrs. Lichtenstein has an extensive background in the realm of special education services. After teaching for decades, she was hired as the director of special services for Prospect Park Yeshiva, and later served as the director of the Otsar Advocacy Project. Her expertise will help guide parents and schools in the Borough Park and Flatbush area through every step in applying for and receiving the appropriate special education services for their child.

Parents of a child applying for special education services or the child's school can reach out to the Navigator office with any questions about the process. Mrs. Lichtenstein can provide direction on the next steps, information on the child's rights, guidance in communicating effectively with the Committees on Special Education (CSE), or for help if a child is denied services.

The Navigator program joins Agudah's over twenty-year history of supporting families with special education and special needs. Originally these services were provided through Project LEARN, under the directorship of Mrs. Leah Steinberg, and now through Yahalom, Agudah's resource and referral division for families of children with special needs, which will collaborate with Navigator to service the special needs community.

"Parents faced with the daunting challenge of applying for special ed services are confronted with questions and nuances every step of the way," said Mrs. Lichtenstein. "My goal is to be someone they can turn to who understands them, understands the system, and can help them with any step of the process."

"Agudath Israel is privileged to be a part of this initiative," said Rabbi Ami Bazov, associate director of Yeshiva Services. "We are eager to alleviate some of the challenges faced by schools and parents throughout Borough Park and Flatbush."

Parents and schools in Borough Park and Flatbush can reach out to Mrs. Lichtenstein with any questions about receiving special education services. To contact Mrs. Lichtenstein, email navigator@agudah.org or call 212.797.9000 ext. 327.