Religious Schools Seek to Fill Special Education Needs

June 27, 2005

Source: The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2005/06/27/religious_schools_look_to_fill_special_education_needs/

On June 27, 2005 The Boston Globe reported, "the Jewish community of Boston is responding to increasing pressure from parents to make religious education more accessible to a larger number of children by spending $2 million to increase the chances that children... can continue to attend Jewish schools. The Jewish community's effort comes as many religious day schools are struggling with whether and how to educate children with special needs, whose education can be expensive and is not covered by public funds when it takes place at religious schools. The Catholic bishops of the United States issued a statement this month declaring that 'Catholic schools must also continue to look for ways to include and serve better the needs of young people in our Church who have special educational and physical needs.' The $2 million grant for special education in Boston-area Jewish day schools is part of a $45 million project, overseen by Combined Jewish Philanthropies, to improve the quality of the 14 Jewish day schools in metropolitan Boston. An estimated 2,700 children attend Jewish day schools in the area."