SINAI’s student-to-professional ratio is greater than 1:2. This allows SINAI to create, implement, closely monitor and, as needed, regularly modify an individualized program for each child we serve. We literally “tailor make” a unique program for each child we serve, in order to help each student achieve his or her specific academic, social and life-skills goals. We provide a range of therapies, including speech, language, occupational, psychological and behavioral therapies. We also provide a wide range of mainstreaming opportunities – specifically tailored to each student – in academic, social and vocational settings.

Our elementary schools, high schools and residential programs are both Judaic and secular. Jewish education, integral to all our programs, enables our children to connect with their families and communities (and removes a barrier to “normalcy” for children who already may be perceived as, or who perceive themselves as, “different”). Our children gain knowledge and understanding of their heritage so that they may participate in our holidays and traditions alongside their “normal” brothers and sisters.

We often “pick up” where other Jewish day schools “leave off”—meaning, we serve a population that would not otherwise be adequately served. While our goal is to enroll children as early in their educations as possible, all too often children come to SINAI after having failed at other mainstream and special education facilities. For many Jewish children, SINAI serves as the school of last resort.

We are thrilled when, after a few years of our intense services, we are able to mainstream a learning disabled child entirely and “return” the child to a “regular” non-special education school. While “returning” children “mid-stream” is not the norm, we do have the pleasure of graduating many children who go on to mainstream high schools and colleges. Whether they go on to become lawyers, teachers, rabbis or businessmen (as many of our alumni have), or to participate meaningfully within the community to the extent of their ability, it is our mission to educate and empower our students to become productive and confident members of the community.

As you learn more about us, you will understand why students travel every day from all over the greater New York metropolitan area in order to attend our schools – and why families relocate from all over the world in order to take advantage of our unique and truly excellent programs.

SINAI is sometimes referred to as a “school within a school”. While SINAI is independently operated and funded and each of our schools has its own administration and staff, all of SINAI’s schools are comprised of “self-contained” classes set within larger, “regular” community Jewish Day schools, which we call our “host” schools. We are structured this way because of the opportunities for mainstreaming provided to our children within our host schools.

Another reason for our structure is that most of our students have brothers and sisters who are not in SINAI. Very often, those brothers and sisters attend the very same school that hosts the SINAI school that their siblings are in. That is, in fact, the ideal: For our SINAI students to be able to go to the same school as their siblings. They can travel to and from school with their siblings, mainstream into their classes, or play with them at recess.

Although SINAI is set within particular host schools, SINAI serves many children whose brothers and sisters attend different schools than the SINAI host school, including students whose families live in entirely different communities. Our host schools, therefore, deserve recognition for the service that they provide to the entire Jewish community in providing homes for SINAI.

SINAI Schools are hosted by the following schools:

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SINAI’s Adult Transitional Programs are set within private houses owned by SINAI, including:

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• It means tailoring a unique educational program for each child with special needs – an individualized program that addresses the unique needs of the child and that uncovers and builds upon the unique strengths of the child.

• It means maximizing each child’s individual potential, nurturing a sense of pride in his or her religious heritage, and helping each child discover opportunities to fulfill his or her dreams.

• It means enabling each child to use the gifts given to him or her by the Almighty to become an active, contributing member of our community and society.

• It means reaching and enlightening a child who previously has known darkness. In many cases, families turn to us after their children have failed at other mainstream and special education facilities.

• It means having an extraordinarily dedicated, talented and devoted team of professionals – caring instructors with extensive training and practical experience, who employ the finest of special education techniques.

• And it means growing an educational institution that rises to the financial challenges inherent in having a professional staff-to-student ratio greater than 1:2.

For over 25 years SINAI Schools have been all this and more, providing unparalleled excellence in Jewish education for children and young adults with a broad spectrum of learning and developmental disabilities.

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Elementary level core curriculum includes language arts, math, science, and social studies, as well as Judaic studies including prayers, Hebrew language, laws and customs, Bible, and Talmud. In classes ranging in size from six to nine students (with each class divided into smaller educational groupings with the needed teacher:student ratio), emphasis is placed on building individualized educational plans and compensatory strategies, such as multi-sensory approaches, to meet specific learning challenges. Social skills, work-study, peer tutoring and introductory vocational programs provide additional support.

Our high schools offer a full academic curriculum guided by a tailor-made education plan targeting each student’s needs and learning style. Full-scale athletic programs and a variety of extra-curricular activities, which enrich the high school experience, are available to all students through our host schools. Students are also given opportunities to explore, learn, and realize a vocation by learning skills in real work settings so they can later compete in a competitive marketplace. Many of our graduates attend colleges and institutions of higher learning. Some have gone on to receive Masters Degrees and Rabbinic ordination.

To students with developmental disabilities who are not on a college track, we teach not only basic literacy and math, but also life skills and provide vocational preparation and placement. We provide counseling and transitional planning for independent living, as well as integration into the community.

Jewish education, integral to all our programs, enables our children to connect with their families and communities. Our children gain knowledge and understanding of their heritage so that they may participate in our holidays and traditions.

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Mainstreaming within our host schools is a hallmark of the educational and life experience that SINAI provides. We provide “academic mainstreaming” for the many SINAI children who, with our support, are able to participate in “regular” host school classes for academic subjects. All of our children benefit from “social mainstreaming” with host school children, by participating in prayers, recess, lunch, gym and other activities.

In simple English, mainstreaming means “letting kids be kids.” Letting them have friends in school. Letting them play football together or eat lunch together. Letting them participate in school activities or play an active role in their communities. In a nutshell letting them be and feel like everyone else.

Mainstreaming also has a profound impact upon the children of the host schools, who interact with our children. Through interacting with our children, the host school children learn tolerance and acceptance, and that our children are as much a part of normal life as any other children.

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SINAI is the only Jewish day school for children with special needs that has received the coveted accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

Being accredited means that SINAI has met rigorous standards for its educational programs, as reviewed and evaluated by an independent accrediting agency. The Accreditation for Growth model chosen, assures that the focus is on student performance. It ensures that all “stakeholders” (parents, students, administration, faculty, and board members) have a say in how our future unfolds.

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SINAI Schools’ programs are designed to meet the educational, psychological and emotional needs of students with varying types and degrees of learning and developmental disabilities. We focus on helping students achieve individualized academic goals while developing a strong sense and knowledge base of their Jewish heritage. Our students are taught skills that promote their success in mainstream academic, social and vocational settings. We educate and empower our students to become productive and confident members of the community.

We believe:

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As we have described, SINAI is unique and essential to the Jewish community. No other Yeshiva or Jewish Day School serves children with the range of disabilities served by SINAI or provides the level of services that we do. SINAI’s schools and programs are unparalled in their excellence. SINAI also serves as the school of last resort for many children. While our goal is to enroll children as early in their educations as possible, all-too-often children come to SINAI after having failed at other Yeshivot, public schools, or other mainstream and special education facilities.

SINAI’s tuition is significantly less than the amount that it costs us to educate and service our children. Additionally, we provide scholarships for students based upon financial hardship. As a result, our costs substantially exceed our tuition revenue.

For each child we admit, we need to generate about $16,000 of fundraising revenues, over and above tuition revenues. Over 33% of our budget must be filled through fundraising.

We are continually and aggressively engaged in fundraising efforts that offer many options for participation. Our “adopt-a-child” program allows donors to sponsor all or a portion of the costs associated with educating a SINAI child. We also offer creative and tax-advantaged giving opportunities that are structured to fit a variety of philanthropic needs, such as SINAI Schools Charitable Remainder Trust. We have been most fortunate to receive special gifts and dedications that have made an enormous difference in the lives of our children and their families. Our ultimate goal is to be able to provide a Jewish special education that is no more expensive than a “regular” Jewish education.

For further information, please contact our Business Office at (201) 833-1134.

SINAI's Non-Discrimination Policy:
SINAI Special Needs Institute (SINAI Schools) admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, scholarships and loan programs and athletic and other administered programs.

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