NEW YORK (AP) — A judge has struck down New York State Education Department guidelines for ensuring that private schools including religious schools provide instruction that's substantially equivalent to what public schools provide.

Thursday's ruling by a state supreme court judge in Albany nullifies guidelines intended to ensure that ultra-Orthodox yeshivas teach secular subjects like English and math.

The education department announced the new directives in November. A pro-yeshiva group filed a lawsuit challenging the guidelines, and groups representing Catholic schools and secular private schools also filed lawsuits.

Judge Christina Ryba sided with the plaintiffs and ruled that the new guidelines were not implemented in compliance with the State Administrative Procedure Act.

A spokeswoman for the education department said the department is reviewing the decision "and will determine the appropriate next steps."