3 new language immersion schools next year

[Anonymous]

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2022/12/21/language-immersion-a-key-investment-in-newly-proposed-mcps-budget/

While this might be great news for kids that are Spanish speakers, what about the English speakers at the 3 schools McKnight decides on? Our ES can’t even teach well in ONE language and I fear for my child if they have to teach in 2 languages next year. Our school is high native Spanish speaker population and I’m really worried they will pick it to be one of these 3 schools. Will we be able to opt out? I don’t even see how this would work to just change a school like this. It’s different than building a new school specifically for this purpose and making it a “magnet” or lottery style.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://bethesdamagazine.com/2022/12/21/language-immersion-a-key-investment-in-newly-proposed-mcps-budget/

While this might be great news for kids that are Spanish speakers, what about the English speakers at the 3 schools McKnight decides on? Our ES can’t even teach well in ONE language and I fear for my child if they have to teach in 2 languages next year. Our school is high native Spanish speaker population and I’m really worried they will pick it to be one of these 3 schools. Will we be able to opt out? I don’t even see how this would work to just change a school like this. It’s different than building a new school specifically for this purpose and making it a “magnet” or lottery style.

Why do you think your school will be one of the three?

[Anonymous]

its trendy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://bethesdamagazine.com/2022/12/21/language-immersion-a-key-investment-in-newly-proposed-mcps-budget/

While this might be great news for kids that are Spanish speakers, what about the English speakers at the 3 schools McKnight decides on? Our ES can’t even teach well in ONE language and I fear for my child if they have to teach in 2 languages next year. Our school is high native Spanish speaker population and I’m really worried they will pick it to be one of these 3 schools. Will we be able to opt out? I don’t even see how this would work to just change a school like this. It’s different than building a new school specifically for this purpose and making it a “magnet” or lottery style.

They would gradually phase it in, starting with kindergarten and increasing by one grade each year.

[Anonymous]

Our neighborhood school, Oakland Terrace, has done it with very positive reviews from parents. Yes, it was phased in starting with kindergartners the first year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://bethesdamagazine.com/2022/12/21/language-immersion-a-key-investment-in-newly-proposed-mcps-budget/

While this might be great news for kids that are Spanish speakers, what about the English speakers at the 3 schools McKnight decides on? Our ES can’t even teach well in ONE language and I fear for my child if they have to teach in 2 languages next year. Our school is high native Spanish speaker population and I’m really worried they will pick it to be one of these 3 schools. Will we be able to opt out? I don’t even see how this would work to just change a school like this. It’s different than building a new school specifically for this purpose and making it a “magnet” or lottery style.

You can’t opt out, but it will start with kinder and build up, so your kid wouldn’t be impacted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our neighborhood school, Oakland Terrace, has done it with very positive reviews from parents. Yes, it was phased in starting with kindergartners the first year.

From what I hear it's hit or miss depending on the student. Some do well with it, others not. I know several parents who did a COSA out.

[Anonymous]

They need to provide inbounds families who don’t want dual language the right to attend an English-only program like they do in DC. It is unfair that families at those schools who don’t want immersion can’t send their kids elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our neighborhood school, Oakland Terrace, has done it with very positive reviews from parents. Yes, it was phased in starting with kindergartners the first year.

From what I hear it's hit or miss depending on the student. Some do well with it, others not. I know several parents who did a COSA out.

DP, also with kids at OTES - the overwhelming majority do fine and stay. I only know of one who left because of the immersion program. Hit or miss vastly overstates the drawbacks of the program, and I have a kid whose reading is probably slightly delayed because of it. I still think it’s overall a positive thing, for most students and for society generally.

[Anonymous]

Good luck finding qualified teachers for 3 more schools.

[Anonymous]

There are definitely options to opt out.
My concern would be the turnover of staff due to needing more teachers of the new language.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://bethesdamagazine.com/2022/12/21/language-immersion-a-key-investment-in-newly-proposed-mcps-budget/

While this might be great news for kids that are Spanish speakers, what about the English speakers at the 3 schools McKnight decides on? Our ES can’t even teach well in ONE language and I fear for my child if they have to teach in 2 languages next year. Our school is high native Spanish speaker population and I’m really worried they will pick it to be one of these 3 schools. Will we be able to opt out? I don’t even see how this would work to just change a school like this. It’s different than building a new school specifically for this purpose and making it a “magnet” or lottery style.

You can’t opt out, but it will start with kinder and build up, so your kid wouldn’t be impacted.

But you can request a different school. There is an option for families who want to opt out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They need to provide inbounds families who don’t want dual language the right to attend an English-only program like they do in DC. It is unfair that families at those schools who don’t want immersion can’t send their kids elsewhere.

It would be unfair if that was the case, except it isn’t the case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good luck finding qualified teachers for 3 more schools.

Well, they just need to find bilingual teachers for one grade per school. Not a huge lift.

[Anonymous]

I'm honestly more worried about which schools are getting added to for innovative school year.