1. Education Options in

I want my child to have a Jewish education – what are my options?

Jewish Day Schools – these are private independent schools with the secular education meeting NSW Education Standards Authority guidelines and a Jewish entity which provides Jewish education through various subjects including Hebrew and Jewish Studies. The schools offer between 25% and 40% of weekly Jewish studies curriculum.

NSW Public Schools – within parts of Sydney there are Government schools with high populations of Jewish students. The NSW Board of Jewish Education provides Special Religious Education to these schools under the license of the NSW Department of Education. Up to one hour of Jewish Studies is available within school hours. It also provides Jewish education outside of school hours through its various before and after school programs. Some smaller cohort schools can also be accommodated.

External to the NSW Public School System - The Board of Progressive Jewish Education also provides out of school hours education through two main progressive campuses in NSW. There are numerous other providers of Jewish education external to the JCA who provide education outside of the public school system such as Inner West Shiurim and local Synagogues.

Which schools fall under the JCA family banner?

JCA provides support to Emanuel School, , , and Mount Sinai College by supporting financial assistance and special needs. Although not a constituent, JCA has also provided with funds to help ensure a broad set of education options are available to our diverse community.

Does JCA believe that every child deserves a Jewish education?

JCA does believe that every Jewish child deserves a Jewish education. JCA believes a Jewish education can be delivered in many ways, hence why JCA supports Jewish Day Schools and provision of Jewish education outside of those day schools. JCA supports Jewish education through public schools via the NSW Board of Jewish Education, through progressive Jewish education via the Board of Progressive Jewish Education, and through the System. Everyone is entitled to a Jewish education, and that can be attained in many ways.

2. Jewish Day School Governance

Does JCA govern the schools?

JCA does not own, operate or govern any of the organisations it fundraises for. Each school has an independent Board who governs it.

Can JCA tell the schools what to do?

JCA cannot tell the schools or any other JCA member organisations what to do as we do not govern them. However, through the JCA Planning department, JCA looks to assist with strategic planning to all communal sectors, however they can. JCA’s Allocations Committee is also able to provide feedback and suggestions based on an understanding of the performance and requirements of the schools.

Why does JCA get involved with Jewish Day Schools?

JCA has been fundraising for community since 1967. One of its founding members was Moriah College. As other schools began to operate, they too became members of the JCA family. JCA seeks to help those in need in the community, through its member organisations, and in the case of schools that is through fee assistance and special needs.

3. JCA Funding of Jewish Day Schools

Why does JCA fund the Jewish Day Schools?

Jewish Day Schools are a foundation of any community offering continuity, social and cultural connection as well as Jewish literacy. JCA allocates funds towards families who require financial assistance for their child to attend a Jewish Day School, up to a capped annual amount for all schools. JCA has also part funded special needs in the schools. Below is a snapshot of total funds disbursed to the Jewish Day Schools in the last 10 years, including any emergency funds required.

Year Fee Assistance Special Needs Emergency Funding 2012 $3,226,100 Included in FA $280,900 2013 $3,142,300 Included in FA $310,600 2014 $3,142,300 $223,000 2015 $3,142,300 $190,000 2016 $3,142,300 $176,900 2017 $3,142,300 $180,000 2018 $3,172,300 $275,000 2019 $2,938,300 $250,000 2020 $3,055,000 $250,000 $1,150,000 2021 $2,975,000 $250,000

Why was the education amount capped?

Since 2012, the monies set aside for fee assistance has been capped at $3.142million across five Jewish Day Schools. JCA annually fundraises for community and there are many communal members in need across a plethora of diverse sectors. At the point it was capped, the schools allocation was growing at a disproportionate rate, whilst overall communal donations were not. To administer funds in a fair and equitable way, JCAs Board of Governors agreed a cap. This helped sustain the community in all sectors. Currently JCA funds 24% of its annual campaign funds to Jewish Day Schools.

Why can’t all JCA funds raised go towards education?

JCA operates across five sectors, all of whom have needs. With community at different stages in life, there needs to be a fair allocation to all sectors in order to keep our community sustained. Those five sectors are education, aged and community care, continuity, communal and heritage.

Why can’t JCA stop funding our private Jewish Day Schools?

JCA funds go towards helping families who need support, via fee assistance and special needs, in the Jewish Day Schools. If JCA were to stop funding schools, it would directly affect families in our community. The Jewish Day Schools are members of JCA and JCA fundraises on behalf of those organisations. It is JCAs remit to distribute annually raised funds to the organisations seeking funding, on a fair and equitable basis. 4. Fees and Fee Assistance in Sydney’s Education Sector

School fees seem high, why aren’t the schools able to lower their fees?

The schools budget is predominantly salaries of staff, around 80%. School revenue in each of our Jewish Day Schools is a fine balance between fees paid by parents/carers, government grants and communal assistance through donations. In general, schools do not make annual profits such that they can afford to reduce fees across the board. Overall, Jewish Day Schools in Sydney approximate a break-even position, this is after the generosity of community.

It is also worthwhile noting that in comparison to other private schools, the Sydney Jewish Day Schools are more affordable than other independent schools in Sydney and even in comparison to other Jewish Day Schools in Victoria. The NSW Jewish Day Schools have endeavored to maintain the lowest possible fees for as long as possible.

Why can’t more funds be found for the Jewish Day Schools?

Significant funding is already provided to the schools. JCA, the Jewish Day Schools and other donors already give generously to support the level of discounting given. The Jewish Day School system is almost three times more generous than in comparison to other Australian private independent schools.

As has always been the case, quality private school education has always entailed a significant cost and no family should feel entitled to a free private school education. If families are able to sacrifice and still need assistance, the support system is there to review their unique case.

What subsidies can I get to help my child get a Jewish education?

There are two pathways you can take for a Jewish education in NSW. Firstly there are the Jewish Day Schools where each school runs as a private and has their own process for reviewing assistance with fees. You would need to contact them directly to discuss your needs. Alternatively, there is the NSW Board of Jewish Education and the Board of Progressive Jewish Education who provide Jewish education programs to children outside of the Jewish Day School system, at a low fee. Please click the links to find out more about these providers.

Who decides who gets education Financial Assistance?

Each school currently has their own Finance Committee who review each request individually.

In terms of JCA and its financial assistance to schools, a formula is used to make it fair and equitable. Schools can provide more support, over and above what the JCA formula calculates, if it deems necessary.

Why is the Fee Assistance Process so detailed?

Each school operates their own fee assistance process. Like all assistance programs there is a need to ensure that the most appropriate people are being supported on an equitable basis. Unfortunately, there is a limited pot of available funds, therefore, the process must be rigorous so as to ensure a positive impact for those in need. Regrettably, in all such systems, there are those who take advantage of communal generosity. By making the process detailed, the schools are able to ensure funds reach the appropriate families.

5. JCA and the Education Review Committee

Why is JCA just looking at education now?

Since as early as 1998, there have been committed members of our community working on sustainable education provision. Why JCA is looking into this again is because there are three demographic elements which are changing which will have some impact on our Jewish Day Schools. Those elements are, a decrease in the number of school-aged students; an increase in assimilation through secularization; and a reduction in migration.

These, coupled with financial impacts on the community through Covid-19, highlighted sustainability questions for the future.

What are the current challenges with Jewish Day Schools?

Enrolments – Currently about 42.8% of school-aged students attend a Jewish Day School in Sydney. Due to demographic trends, the number of Jewish school-aged children is due to decrease over the next 10 years, making the pool of available students smaller overall. If the current take-up is mirrored in ten years’ time, then there will be 460 less students in Jewish Day Schools. This will impact the sustainability of all schools.

Funding – A key challenge relates to the significant level of discounting, whether through, scholarships, bursaries, sibling discount or fee assistance, this annual figure is approximately $15.7 million. This is mostly funded from community, both through JCA and through donors direct to the schools. It is worth noting that relative to other private independent schools the Jewish Day School sector are extremely generous in their level of discounting. Most Australian independent schools limit the number of students receiving any form of discounting. Although Jewish Day Schools are private independent schools, more than one third receive discounts of some sort. The total number of Jewish students in Day Schools in 2021 is 3,278.

School Capacity – Schools are limited, by Government, in the number of enrolments they can take overall. As the social trends change there is a need for more space in schools which meet the needs of community both from an inclusive and diverse point of view. The maximum capacity in schools in Sydney is currently 3,890. With some schools full and some year’s full in other schools, getting the balance right is a challenge.

6. Other Funding Models

Why can’t the Jewish Day Schools replicate the Catholic Model?

There is a lot of history and politics behind the current Catholic system. Catholic schools in Sydney have been around for 200 years, they even precede the public school system. The funding system struck for the Catholic Schools is historic and differs between Catholic Systemic Schools (552) and Catholic Independent Schools (46). The Catholic Systemic Schools in NSW are overseen by Catholic Schools NSW, whilst the Catholic Independent Schools are governed by their own boards. Catholic Systemic Schools are the ones that appear to have very low flat fees. These are currently heavily subsidised by Government. In 2020, the Catholic Systemic Schools received $2.8 billion in Federal and State funding. There is a transition of change occurring which will see less funding received over time as there is a shift to the new needs-based funding arrangement.

Jewish Day Schools and Catholic Systemic Schools cannot be compared due to the historic nature of Government funding received. The Systemic Schools provide a hybrid education platform which is neither considered public, nor private. The Systemic Schools educate approximately 217,000 students and employ 15,000 teachers in NSW. Over many decades, there have been previous attempts to engage with Government on the funding mechanisms to Jewish Day Schools, however these have been cut short given a plethora of variables including the very low volume of students and the nature of delivery of Jewish education, via the private school route.

As Jewish Day Schools are private schools, if any comparison is to be considered, it is more appropriate for that to be with the Catholic Independent Schools. Those independent schools run in similar ways to the Jewish Day Schools and are predominantly funded by revenue from fees, with an average 15% of funding from Government. The Jewish schools average around the same amount of Government funding as the independent schools, with none currently receiving less than the 15% average.

In terms of discounting, most Catholic independent schools give between 1% and 7% of revenue as their cap on discounting whether that be through fee assistance, bursaries or scholarships. In comparison, our Jewish Day School system currently averages approximately 20% of revenue through discounting. The Jewish Day Schools are able to fund this level of discounting through the generosity of community, at the amount of 65%, whilst the remainder is funded from school operations.

Whilst this cannot be replicated exactly, there could be options for discussions on other hybrid models if Government is willing to consider.

In England, Jewish Day schools are free, can we do the same?

Unlike the UK, the level of Government assistance is low in . Our Jewish Day School system provides a private education platform which has costs associated with it over and above the Government funding. There are no private schools which are free in Australia. In the UK the secular portion of schools are free because they are funded by Government in their entirety. That has historically been their system. There is still a payment required for the Jewish education delivery, albeit small. The Jewish Day Schools in the UK are not private schools, they are public schools funded by public monies.