U.S. Charter Schools tied to Islamic movement? - KCBD NewsChannel 11 Lubbock

U.S. Charter Schools tied to Islamic movement? - KCBD NewsChannel 11 Lubbock:

U.S. Charter Schools tied to Islamic movement? Harmony Public Schools say no

LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) -

60 Minutes aired a story Sunday night, centered on possible ties bet

ween American charter schools and the Gulen movement. The Gülen movement is inspired by the teachings of Turkish Islamic theologian 

Fethullah Gülen. According to the CBS report, the Imam taught his followers to build schools instead of mosques, to teach math, science and values instead of religion, and to embrace certain western traditions such as capitalism and democracy.

130 charter schools are located in the United States. 36 are located in Texas. Harmony Science Academy in Lubbock is one of those Texas charter schools. According to HPS's district office spokesperson, Julie Shussler, HPS schools located in Texas "are not part of a national network of charter schools." In fact, Shussler said that HPS denies all ties to the Turkish imam.

"HPS are not affiliated in any way with any religious or political organizations, including the so-called Gulen movement," Shussler said in a statement.

All HPS schools are public schools, paid for by the state. According the statement KCBD