January 24, 2013

(JTA) — A dual-language Hebrew and English charter school was approved for Los Angeles.

The Lashon Academy is the first Hebrew-language charter school approved by the Los Angeles Unified School District, the Los Angeles Jewish Journal reported.

There are about 230 charter schools in the school district, including other dual-language immersion schools.

Lashon, which means tongue or language in Hebrew, was assisted in its application by the Hebrew Charter School Center, a New York-based nonprofit backed by philanthropist Michael Steinhardt, according to the Jewish Journal.

Five other Hebrew-language charter schools are supported by the Hebrew Charter School Center. 

One member of the Los Angeles district school board expressed concern that Lashon would become a private Jewish school masquerading as a public school. 
 

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