New York officials approve Hebrew charter school

New York state officials have approved a Hebrew-language charter school. The state Board of Regents approved the application Jan. 13, after a recommendation from the state’s Department of Education.

The New York City school, which will be known as the Hebrew Language Academy Charter School, will provide daily Hebrew-language instruction. It will not teach or promote Judaism.

Charter schools, which are publicly funded and privately managed, operate free of many of the restrictions placed on public schools and have been the source of controversy nationally in recent years. An Arabic-language charter in Brooklyn has been the target of fierce criticism, alleging that the school preaches a radical brand of Islam.  — jta