Source: The Jewish Week
Nearly 400 young parents attended an open house recently for a Modern Orthodox yeshiva, planning to open in Bergenfield, N.J., next fall, that will not only offer a bargain-rate tuition but promises to be a model for Jewish education in the 21st century.
The Yeshivat He’atid (Hebrew for “Yeshiva of the Future”, which is expected to open with up to 150 children in pre-kindergarten through second grades, will offer a “blended learning” model, featuring individualized, “project-based” education that combines computers and face-to-face instruction.
He’atid’s model is based on one being adopted by many schools, which are stepping up their use of technology in the classroom, both as a cost-cutting measure and a way of individualizing instruction.
He’atid is offering a $7,990 tuition for pre-K, and $8,990 for K-2, substantially less than most Modern Orthodox day schools.
The Avi Chai Foundation, a major funder of Jewish day school education, is supporting the school with a significant grant while helping other schools launch similar programs. Avi Chai has also created a Digital Jewish Learning Network, which currently enables 18 schools to experiment with online learning, sharing what they learn about choosing the right courses and monitoring students.
Read about Yeshivat Heatid in more detail at the Jewish Week and the Jewish Standard.