Both the Orthodox Union’s Institute for Public Affairs and Agudath Israel of America have been working to maintain a strong presence in New York and New Jersey’s state legislatures, where the critical choices concerning the allocation of state funds for education are made. There has been a concerted effort to raise awareness in the Orthodox community about the legislative process as it relates to relief for tuition-paying parents and to develop solid relationships with state lawmakers who play a pivotal role in the legislative decision-making process.
Every member of our community who has children or grandchildren in yeshiva should get involved. Each one of us who has ever groused about the cost of tuition ought to find out how he or she can be of assistance with these advocacy efforts.
The Indiana Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the state’s voucher program was a huge victory for school choice advocates and a reminder that there are indeed legal and constitutional ways for government to provide aid to private school parents. However, we would be naïve to expect that government will help yeshiva parents if we do not actively ask and advocate for that assistance.