Private-School Advocates Rally in Albany for Increased Security Funding

By Hamodia Staff

ALBANY — Dozens of advocates from multiple faiths assembled in Albany on Tuesday to show support for increasing the Nonpublic School Safety Equipment (NPSE) grant, following last week’s announcement that the state Senate is doubling security funding through the NPSE grant program to $90 million in its one-house budget. 

The Assembly announced a smaller increase, to $65 million, in its budget. Gov. Kathy Hochul’s executive budget had no increase, keeping the grant level at its current $45 million.

“With threats and hate crimes at our religious institutions on the rise, we must do more to keep children safe and secure as they learn,” said Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris, an advocate of increased security funding, at the event organized by TEACH Coalition.  “Doubling security funding for schools will give parents confidence that New York is stepping up for their families.”

The total number of hate crimes has surged by 16% in 2024 compared to 2023, according to NYPD hate crimes data – including recent incidents at New York City schools such as swastikas and other hateful language graffitied on campuses, and hijabs and other religious garments stripped off of students.

Following the October 7th attack in Israel and subsequent surge in antisemitic incidents in New York and elsewhere, Teach Coalition – a project of the Orthodox Union that advocates for government funding and resources for nonpublic schools — worked with Gianaris to convene a round table with leaders from Jewish, Islamic, Catholic schools to discuss security concerns amidst rising hate crimes. In November, Gianaris announced that he would lead the charge to double NPSE security funding from $45 million to $90 million. Since then, nearly 100 New York legislators have signed onto letters of support, and are now advocating for Hochul to include that increase in the next fiscal year budget. Advocates have also sent over 17,000 letters in support of the funding, including hundreds of handwritten letters from New York students.

 “The gravity of the current situation has left an emotional and financial toll on all our communities, and this proposed additional funding would make a big difference in easing these burdens,” said Maury Litwack, founder of Teach Coalition.

The Senate, Assembly and governor’s office are currently in negotiations over their budgets. A final budget is expected to be passed sometime next month.