School Committee approves private Islamic elementary school

Revere will have a new school opening this September. Revere T.I.E.S., The Islamic Education School, a full-time private school plans to open its doors this fall in the cable building at 41 Marble Street.

The School Committee voted unanimously to approve the new school after a presentation by T.I.E.S. School administrators at the committee’s meeting this week. For the first year, the TIES school will offer Kindergarten through grade 2 classes. The hope is to grow and add an additional grade next year.

The Revere T.I.E.S. School is being established under the umbrella of the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects a global non-profit organization which supports schools and Saturday programs throughout the country.  According to the AICP, website, T.I.E.S. schools were established to “resolve the dilemma of concerned Muslim parents looking to provide their children with a strong academic background and protect them from the public-school environment in which Muslim children might be exposed to influences seriously threatening their proper moral development.”

Although student registration has not started, T.I.E.S. administrators are expecting to enroll 30 to 50 students. The school, which will be supported through student tuition which is expected to be about $6,000 to $7,000, is open to all students not just Revere residents.

The T.IE.S. Revere School mirrors Revere Public schools with standard-based Massachusetts curriculum, assessments, and school schedules. T.I.E.S. administrators stressed they hope to be part of the Revere School network.

Like other teachers at private, religious schools, teachers at the T.I.E.S. School are not required to be certified. T.I.E.S. will have their own criteria and standards for teachers which includes advanced degrees and teaching experience.

T.I.E.S. administrators said the most important objective of their school is to spread correct knowledge of Islam to Muslims and non-Muslims. But just as important is to provide an excellent secular education to students to help them become honorable representatives of the Islamic community.