On Tuesday March 12th, the Alliance of Bukharian Americans (ABA) and Yeshiva of Central Queens (YCQ) advocated together with TeachNYS in the New York State Capitol of Albany. We joined over 700 students, parents, and school administrators to promote increased S.T.E.M. and Security funding at nonpublic schools. For those who are unfamiliar, S.T.E.M. funding refers to the nascent government program created to drive down the cost of nonpublic school education, by funding core secular subjects like Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Importantly, we thank the OU for leading this effort with its subsidiary TeachNYS, and also thank them for arranging busing for the ABA team and YCQ students.
The ABA team –including Board Members Simcha Musheyev, David Mordukhaev and Executive Director Adam Suionov– personally met with Senators Leroy Comrie, Toby Ann Stavisky and Joseph Addabbo Jr. We also had the opportunity to meet Assemblyman David Weprin, Assemblyman Dan Rosenthal, and the office of Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi. The full day activity began with important presentations in the Capitol Building’s Hart Theater, which highlighted the progress made since the mission began.
The ABA carried the community’s voice; our students deserve an excellent and safe educational experience. We made it clear to the elected officials that a large portion of our community sees no choice but to enroll our children in nonpublic schools because preserving our traditions and communal continuity are a crucial element of child rearing. We emotionally delivered your urgent message that thousands of Bukharian constituents of New York City would greatly benefit from an increase in this year’s budget allocation for S.T.E.M. education in nonpublic schools.
We explained that support for this funding will have a direct impact on our community and its future. Tuition affordability is one of the greatest challenges we face as a community. We pay full property taxes, yet are currently compelled to shoulder the added burden of ever-increasing tuition costs. Without this S.T.E.M. funding, our children’s education and future may be jeopardized. Many families have realized this and are relocating to nearby states where nonpublic school tuition costs are not as high or state tuition assistance is more helpful.
Here are some more facts we brought to their attention: Nonpublic schools educate more than 400,000 students and are 15% of all students in our state, yet they receive less than 1% of our state’s education funding annually. Nonpublic schools also contribute over $11 billion annually to New York State, including $3.9 billion in wages and salaries. Furthermore, nonpublic schools generate more than $500 million in tax revenue and add 70,000 jobs to the state’s economy.
This funding will grow and create new programs that will have an immediate impact and prepare our children for the jobs of tomorrow. This funding would be an investment in the future taxpayers of our great state who will likely stay close to home when it is time for them to raise their own families.
We later followed up after a full day of advocating with letters to all of the politicians we met, reinforcing the message and demonstrating our sincerity. It is important for Lawmakers to see that our community cares about increasing the funding that our schools get. This will in turn decrease the cost of tuition, benefiting the full spectrum of NY children choosing nonpublic schools. We hope for and anticipate more good news to follow.
By Adam Suionov
ABA Advocates For Our Children With TeachNYS
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