5 Towns parents to launch new yeshiva

Yeshiva education hasn’t grown much in the last 30 years, except for tuition costs.

It used to be that sending your child to a yeshiva offered a far superior education to that in public schools. But advancements in technology and educational techniques in the last decade have left government funded secular education moving to the head of the charge in educational innovation, while yeshivas have lagged behind.

A group of dedicated parents from the Five Towns aims to change that in 2013 by launching Tiferet Academy, a model of 21st Century Learning and sustainable tuition. It’s our goal to bring the yeshiva education system into the future.

Colloquially referred to as 21st Century Learning, (or sometimes “Blended Learning”), the educational model Tiferet uses splits every classroom into 3 rotating groups of students called sections. 21st Century classrooms are more spacious than traditional classrooms to more easily accommodate the sections.

In a class of 24,one section of 8 children learns with a master teacher in a traditional, but more intimate setting that allows for more face-to-face time; one section of 8 children reviews the materials collaboratively under the supervision of an assistant teacher, often with a hands-on project that helps clarify make the lesson relatable; one section of 8 children uses technology (computers or tablets) to assess their understanding of the materials in real-time, to help students move at their own pace and alert the teacher to any knowledge gaps.

Each child is given equal access to all three sections throughout each school day. The resulting approach to learning offers students the ability to gain greater face time with their teachers, develop social skills with their peers, and learn at a pace that is tailored for their unique needs. And as an added bonus, it allows for greater cost efficiency by increasing the size of the classroom, while providing even more individualized teacher-student attention than traditional classes. This ultimately translates into lower, sustainable tuition costs for parents.

In the secular schools that have piloted this system in the last decade, grades have improved in astonishing ways. Acton Academy in Austin, Texas implemented 21st Century Learning for math and reading courses, and saw a 2.5 grade level bump in both subjects in one year. Rocketship Education, a network of California elementary schools incorporating 21st Century Learning, saw the percentage of students who were advanced or proficient in English rise from 40% to 80% in 2010 under their model. Math skills rose from 50% to 90%.

How Existing Yeshiva Classrooms Work

Tiferet’s approach greatly differs from other established yeshivas whose classrooms haven’t changed since the early 1900’s (an educational model which was originally based on preparing children to work on assembly lines in factories). Traditional classrooms generally have one teacher lecturing to 20+ children at once, moving at the average pace of the classroom. In other words, teachers teach to the middle.

Tiferet Academy was founded by a group of dedicated parents in the 5 Towns who were concerned with the growing yeshiva tuition crisis and knew things needed to change. We feared that if parents did not take action now, the yeshiva system would eventually collapse as a result of increasing numbers of parents unable to afford full tuition. Without a financially sustainable Jewish educational system, the future of the Jewish people is in jeopardy.

Tiferet aims to achieve lower, more stable tuition at a 35-40% discount over local Jewish day schools through efficiency, decreasing overhead, eliminating mandatory scholarship funds. The net effect of these practices will save the average family of 3 children close to $200,000 over the course of K-8th grade. And potentially means savings of many millions of dollars for the community per year… Money that can be earmarked for tzedaka, community projects and most importantly, enable families to comfortably afford to bring more Jewish children into this world.

Tiferet Academy embodies Torah dedication focusing on mitzvoth, Israel, learning, middot, financial management and entrepreneurial skills, operational responsibility, and a model for others to emulate.

Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum, Rabbi of the Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst, said, “Every opportunity for the sake of some of our kids enhances possibilities and holds out greater promise for all of our kids.”

A group of parents in Bergenfield, New Jersey, opened Yeshivat He’Atid in September 2012 under Rabbi Natanel Gralla of Woodmere (previously of HALB) with 116 students.

Another 21st Century Learning yeshiva is planning to open its doors in Westchester in 2013. Yeshivas incorporating technology in Baltimore and Los Angeles are already open and thriving.

Rabbi Aryeh Lightstone, Regional Director of NSCY has founded Aleph Beta Academy (www.alephbeta.org), a digital platform for Jewish learning in partnership with Rabbi Fohrman, a prolific author and noted lecturer who also served as a lead writer and editor for Artscroll’s Talmud translation project. Aleph Beta is one of a new wave of providers beginning to develop next generation Judaic curricula.

“Aleph Beta Academy is developing rich interactive digital coursework for Judaic topics,” said Rabbi Lightstone. “As the education world at large incorporates more next generation learning methodologies for secular studies, Judaic studies are sure to follow suit.”

Other organizations are helping innovate on Jewish education as well. The AVI CHAI Foundation, a private foundation that has donated staggering amounts to Jewish education and Israeli causes, has helped fund Tal AM, a digital curriculum covering Hebrew language, Torah, and prayer, as well as introductions to rabbinic literature and Jewish history in older grades. Tal AM software is already in use in more than 400 Jewish day schools worldwide.

Tiferet Academy will be holding its inaugural Open House in the Lawrence Woodmere Academy auditorium on November 18th, 7:30pm at 336 Woodmere Blvd in Woodmere. More information and preregistration information can also be found at www.tiferet.org.