DC Hebrew-Language Charter School Approved, Arabic School Rejected

A Hebrew-language charter school was approved in Washington, DC, and is scheduled to open for the 2013-14 term.

An Arabic-language charter school also under review was not approved by the charter school board.

The Sela school, originally named the Washington DC Hebrew Language Public Charter School, was one of four new charter schools approved Monday by the District of Columbia Public Charter School Board, the Washington Post reported. The school will serve students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade.

Sela students will study in English and Hebrew on alternating days. As a charter school, Sela will not be allowed to teach religion and will not be considered a religious institution. The public school is expected to attract Jewish and non-Jewish students.

Washington has 53 charter schools serving 41 percent of the city's public school students, according to the charter school board’s website.