A carve-out in a state law passed this year as an amendment to the state education budget that exempts ultra-Orthodox Jewish schools from meeting minimum educational standards violates the establishment clause of the Constitution, an advocacy group alleges in a suit filed on Monday.
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, representing the Young Advocates for Fair Education (YAFFED) group, which advocates for improving educational curricula in ultra-Orthodox schools, alleges in a suit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York that the amendment effectively creates a “dual oversight” regime for yeshivas and for nonpublic schools in New York, which are required to give instruction that is “substantially equivalent” of that provided to public schools students.
Quinn Emanuel partner Eric Huang, who was also present for the news conference, said his clients would consider filing a motion for a preliminary injunction to stop the law from taking effect. Quinn Emanuel is taking the case on a pro bono basis.
“If the law is allowed to stand it will stand in the way of progress,” Huang said.
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We send our best wishes to longtime AABANY member Eric Huang for a successful outcome in this important case.