Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy

country = USA
homepage = [http://www.tizacademy.com/ Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy]

Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy (TIZA) is an elementary school (K-8) in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota named after Tarek ibn Ziyad, the Ummayad of medieval Spain who entered Gibraltar in 711 CE and defeated the Visigoths. The school is sponsored by Islamic Relief USA. [Muehlhausen, Nicole (April 11, 2008), [http://kstp.com/article/stories/S408718.shtml?cat=1 "Charter school makes changes after Islamic accusation"] , "KSTP-TV"] The school has a primarily Muslim student body and has been embroiled in a number of controversies regarding the separation of church and state. The school has a waiting list of 1,500 students. [Kersten, Katherine (March 9, 2008), [http://www.startribune.com/featuredColumns/16404541.html "March 9: Are taxpayers footing bill for Islamic school in Minnesota?"] , "Star Tribune"] Around 80% of students are English language learners. Despite this, the school has one of the highest reading scores on standardized tests in the state. [McCallum, Laura (May 13, 2007), [http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/05/11/muslimcharter/ "Twin Cities charter school boosts reading scores for English language learners"] , "Minnesota Public Radio"]

Founding

Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy opened in the fall of 2003 for the 2003-2004 school year. The school was founded by its current principal, Asad Zaman and Hesham Hussein, both local imams and leaders of the Muslim American Society of Minnesota (MAS-MN). The school opened with an enrollment of 215 students in grades K-5. The school was very popular and had 765 applicants in the first year. In 2000, the Inver Grove Heights School District, planned to sell an elementary school to [http://www.al-amal.org/index.htm Al-Amal Elementary] , a private Muslim elementary school based in Fridley, Minnesota. However Al-Amal's tuition was too much for many Muslim families and so Islamic Relief USA agreed to sponsor a charter school. [Oseid, Tammy J. (November 7, 2004), "A PLACE TO BELONG - AT TAREK IBN ZIYAD ACADEMY, STUDENTS CAN STUDY ARABIC ALONG WITH ENGLISH, STAY IN TOUCH WITH THEIR CULTURE AND "JUST BE THEMSELVES.", "Saint Paul Pioneer Press"] The school currently shares a building with the Muslim American Society of Minnesota (MAS-MN) and a mosque. [Associated Press (April 10, 2008), [http://www.startribune.com/local/17460999.html "State to review Muslim charter school"] , "Star Tribune"]

tudents

As of the 2006-2007 school year, 302 students attended TIZA. The majority were Black, at 83%, with Asian, 14%, and White, 2% being the other major ethnic groups. 77% of students qualify for Free and Reduced Price Lunch, a measure of poverty and the majority 81% have limited English proficiency. 4% of students qualify for special education. The school's math proficiency was 23% points higher than the state average and the school's reading proficiency was 3% points higher than the state average at 67%. Principal Asad Zaman estimates that 80 to 90 percent of students are Muslim. [Lemagie, Sarah (May 20, 2008), [http://www.startribune.com/local/south/19076119.html?page=1&c=y "State orders charter school to correct 2 areas tied to Islam"] "Star Tribune"]

Curriculum

The school's curriculum focuses on historical civilizations in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, and teaches the Arabic language in addition to English. The school curriculum places an emphasis on Muslim culture and the Arabic language. [Popper, Nathanial (August 31, 2007), [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118852754540714337.html?mod=googlenews_wsj "Chartering a New Course"] , "The Wall Street Journal"] After the school day ends several optional extracurricular activities are offered. The teaching of Islamic studies after school has generated controversy. The Muslim American Society of Minnesota (MAS-MN), which shares the building with TIZA offers the classes. [Jett, Beth (April 12, 2008), [http://kstp.com/article/stories/S409843.shtml "JETT: TIZA Academy -- some extras that didn't make the stories we aired"] , "KSTP-TV"]

Controversy

Star Tribune columnist Katherine Kersten spurred an inquiry into TiZA by the Minnesota Department of Education after her column suggested the school had violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution by teaching religion in the schools. [ [http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/article/2008/05/20/education-department-findings-tarek-ibn-ziyad-academy-contradict-published-report May 20, 2008 Education Department findings on Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy contradict published reports] "Minnesota Monitor"]

The Department of Education found that the school had violated some lesser statutes, involving seat time and busing, but that it was not teaching Islam to students. [ [http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/article/2008/05/20/education-department-findings-tarek-ibn-ziyad-academy-contradict-published-report May 20, 2008 Education Department findings on Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy contradict published reports] "Minnesota Monitor"] [ [http://www.twincities.com/allheadlines/ci_9315800?nclick_check=1 May 20, 2008 State dispels suspicions charter school teaches Islam] "Pioneer Press"]

When a news crew from KSTP-TV entered the school grounds to ask for a comment about the MDoE findings, school director Asad Zaman and another school official grabbed the crew's camera. Police were already in the area at the time of the incident. No charges against KSTP (for trespassing) or the school officials (for assault) were pursued. [ [http://www.minnpost.com/dailyglean/2008/07/01/2429/daily_glean_strib_defaults_on_payment_--_and_clear_headlines July 1, 2008 KSTP reports Inver Grove Heights police won't charge a Channel 5 news crew, or Tarik ibn Zayad Academy leaders] "MinnPost"]

Possible hate crime directed at school

Asad Zaman claims that the school has received threatening telephone and e-mail messages after a newspaper journalist questioned whether the school promotes Islam. CAIR, an Islamic advocay group, has filed a complaint with police. Authorities were investigating the messages as possible hate crimes as of April, 2008. [ [http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=129606&sc=85 Muslim group asks for inquiry on alleged threats against school] ]

See also

* Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment
* Separation of church and state in the United States
* Faith-based initiatives
* Board of Education of Kiryas Joel Village School District v. Grumet
* Khalil Gibran International Academy
* Ben Gamla Charter School

References

* Birkey, Andy (May 2008), [http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/article/2008/05/20/education-department-findings-tarek-ibn-ziyad-academy-contradict-published-report "Education Department findings on Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy contradict published reports"] "Minnesota Monitor"
* Featherly, Kevin (March 2007), [http://www.minnesotamonthly.com/media/Minnesota-Monthly/March-2007/Brothers-Keeper/ "Brothers' Keeper"] , "Minnesota Monthly"
* Kersten, Katherine (April 9, 2008), [http://www.startribune.com/local/17406054.html "Wednesday: Wall of silence broken at state's Muslim public school"] , "Star Tribune"
* Kersten, Katherine (April 8, 2008), [http://www.startribune.com/local/17402659.html "E-mail exchange with TIZA's executive director"] , "Star Tribune"

External links

* [http://www.tizacademy.com/ Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy]
* [http://engagemn.com/2008/07/01/bright-spot-in-charter-school-report-tarek-academy/ Bright Spot in Charter-school Report: Tarek Academy]
* [http://ww2.startribune.com/dynamic/no_child/school.php?dst_num=4099&dst_type=07 AYP results]