Orthodox Jewish groups thank Schumer for COVID aid to private schools

• Published date: 15 March 2021
• Date: 15 March 2021
• Author: Andrew Silow-Carrol/JTA

The move came over the objections of some Democratic leaders, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and public school advocates who have fought efforts to funnel federal money to private schools. The National Education Association expressed "strong disappointment" at what it called a "Betsy DeVos-era" policy, referring to former President Donald Trump's education secretary.

The funding did pick up a surprise endorsement from Randi Weingarten, head of the American Federation of Teachers and a frequent critic of government aid for sectarian schooling. She told The New York Times "it would be a 'shonda' if we didn't actually provide the emotional support and nonreligious supports that all of our children need right now," using the Yiddish word for "scandal."

Nathan Diament, public policy director at the Orthodox Union, thanked...