Orthodox Jewish and Roman Catholic Groups Come Together To Include $2.75 Billion For Private Schools In Relief Package

In a joint lobbying effort by Orthodox Jewish and Roman Catholic Groups, the latest COVID-19 stimulus that was given the green flag by the House last night managed to gain a budget of $2.75 Billion, specifically catered towards Private Schools.

Seeking funding for Yeshivas and non-public schools in general, Orthodox Jewish groups, along with their Roman Catholic counterparts, strongly lobbied to get their demands met under the $900 Billion pandemic relief bill that is soon to be finalized. Given that private schools too have taken a massive hit since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the lobbyists proposed that it was only fair if private schools get some relief as well.

Source: The Forward

Their efforts did not go waste, as the bill proposed $2.75 billion be funded to Private schools across the country, in order to lift them up economically. “As we all know, the COVID-19 pandemic has been terribly disruptive and costly to America’s K-12 schools — the students and families they serve, the teachers and many other staffers who work tirelessly to educate our children,” Nathan Diament, the Orthodox Union’s Washington director, whose group was among the Jewish and Catholic organizations pushing lawmakers for the funds, said Monday in a news release.

“That is why it is essential for this latest federal relief package to include a great amount of support for these schools and, among them, America’s Jewish, Catholic and other nonpublic schools,” he added.

Source: Jewish Telegraphic Agency

As it stands, once the bill is passed and the funds are confirmed, Private schools including Yeshivas and Catechism schools will have to apply for the said funding to avail its benefits. In New York, Yeshivas faced major challenges this year, as authorities shuttered schools with numerous restrictions and singled out the Jewish community by means of pinpointed action.

After the clearance of the bill by the House, Republican and Democrat senators and the U.S. House of Representatives have agreed on the outlines of the stimulus package and have also finalized the package, the bill will now reach the President’s office for the final signing.