Arabic-Language Charter Schools

From the Charter School News Connection:

Arabic-language public schools are in the spotlight. New York City's first publicly funded Arabic-language school opened earlier this month despite critics that warned it could foster anti-American Islamist extremism or even just include Islamic teachings. In Ohio, two public charter schools, Central Academy and Bridge Academy, are run by Global Educational Excellence, which also runs five Arabic-themed schools in Michigan. Mohamad Issa, director of the company, said parents have been asking him to start such schools for years, and that school leaders "make it clear to parents that this is only teaching culture and teaching the language. We are not going to teach any religion." Many of the teachers at all of the company's schools are non-Arabic, though the majority of students do come from Arabic-speaking homes. Source: Toledo Blade, (09/16/2007) http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070916/NEWS04/709160331/-1/NEWS