Christian school’s charter plan questioned

A team of administrators tasked with reviewing charter school applications told the Pittsburgh Public Schools board at a hearing Tuesday that it had significant concerns with a proposed charter, citing among other issues the school’s religious curriculum.

Leaders from Imani Christian Academy, a 22-year-old private Christian school in the East Hills, made their case before the school board this week to become Imani Academy Charter School. But the team of PPS curriculum supervisors and developers highlighted a number of issues with the school’s application and questioned its ability to transform to a public charter school from a private school with a “deeply embedded” Christian curriculum.

“[And] there are concerns from the review team that it would be difficult for families, because they choose a Christian school for a reason,” said Lisa Augustine, the district’s director of charter schools. “The very foundation of this school is the Christian religion.”

Among the other concerns the review team cited: Imani’s proposed curriculum does not align with the PA Core Standards; the school would be unable to sufficiently meet the needs of special education students or students with special needs; and it had a prior period of financial instability.

Also mentioned was the fact that when Imani Christian Academy bought the former East Hills Elementary building from the city school district, there was a legal agreement that the building would never be used for a charter school.

Kevin McKenna, Imani’s attorney, said that agreement was not included in the deed and is unenforceable and illegal.

“We all know the law — a charter school can’t be religious in any aspect,” Mr. McKenna said in response to the district’s findings report. “If there’s any religious symbols or religious teaching, they’re going to get closed down.”

Per the charter application, Imani’s goal is to “provide a high quality educational experience using a customized pedagogy and a civic leadership curriculum to address the educational needs of underserved urban students.” School leaders expect to enroll about 230 students in kindergarten through 12th grade — roughly in line with its current enrollment — in its first year as a charter.

School board members expressed concerns with Imani’s curriculum and its ability to serve all students. Board member Regina Holley said that if the school has been so successful for two decades, Imani’s plan to become a charter school must be “about money.”

Becoming a charter school would allow Imani to use taxpayer money — passed through the Pittsburgh school district — to operate. Charter schools receive their funding from the school districts where each individual student lives. The districts pay the charters a “tuition” rate, based on what the district spends per student.

Imani’s website does not list what it currently charges families for tuition, but it does say that only 7 percent of its budget comes from tuition payments. The school also offers families financial aid and tuition payment plans, according to the site.

Imani CEO and Head of School Paulo Nzambi said even with the tuition subsidies the school currently provides, the cost of attending is a significant barrier for children who wish to attend. Becoming a charter would remove that barrier, he said.

“The purpose of becoming a charter is to afford greater access to individuals who want to take advantage of it,” Mr. Nzambi said. “And it’s our belief that people have the right to choose, and that right should not be taken away from them simply because they don’t make as much money as others.”

The school board will vote on Imani’s application Feb. 27.