Fort Lauderdale, FL – The first taxpayer-funded Hebrew-language charter school can resume classes, county school board members voted today, saying concerns about the Jewish faith seeping into public classrooms had largely been resolved.
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The Ben Gamla Charter School in Florida said it would begin teaching Hebrew again Monday, more than three weeks after Broward County schools Superintendent James Notter ordered the classes stopped to allow further review of the curriculum.
The school can teach about the Jewish faith, but cannot advocate it.
School board members said close monitoring of the school is still necessary. Lesson plans are to be submitted monthly for district review.
It was the fourth time Ben Gamla had its curriculum go before the board.
Ben Gamla has generated controversy since it was proposed. Its roughly 400 students in kindergarten through eighth grades follow state curriculum, but also are to take a Hebrew language course. One of their core subjects — math or physical education, for example — is to be taught bilingually as well.
Ben Gamla founder Peter Deutsch, said that he plans to add additional Ben Gamla locations in South Florida and in New York and Los Angeles. [AP]