Equal access to dual language programs?

[Anonymous]

Is DCPS finally offering equal access to dual language programs? See below from the 24-25 Handbook. It seems to imply there are no by-right dual language schools.

Dual Language Program: A program that provides some or all its core instruction in a language other than English. Some dual language programs are whole school programs; some schools offer a dual language program strand and a non-dual language program strand. Dual language programs do require a lottery application to participate.

https://enrolldcps.dc.gov/sites/dcpsenrollment/files/page_content/attachments/SY24-25%20DCPS%20Enrollment%20and%20Lottery%20Handbook.pdf

[Anonymous]

If you're going to quote a snippet from a 39 page document, a page number is helpful.

[Anonymous]

Page 37:
Dual Language Enrollment Policies
“Students may attend their right-to-attend school(s) for grades K-12 without applying through the My School DC lottery.”

There are still in-bound dual language schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're going to quote a snippet from a 39 page document, a page number is helpful.

Page 4. It is not a snippet. It is the entire section defining Dual Language Programs. It clearly says lottery is required. Might not be true, but that is an example of a poorly written DCPS document with conflicting statements, not that the snippet is taken out of context.

[Anonymous]

My impression is it says lottery is required because of the need to classify students as English Dominant and Spanish Dominant. I get why it's confusing but schools like Bancroft and OA are full of in-boundary students. Maybe someone who goes to a DL school can clarify if you still have to fill out a lottery application despite being in-boundary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My impression is it says lottery is required because of the need to classify students as English Dominant and Spanish Dominant. I get why it's confusing but schools like Bancroft and OA are full of in-boundary students. Maybe someone who goes to a DL school can clarify if you still have to fill out a lottery application despite being in-boundary.

This was my interpretation as well, but agree with OP that it’s poorly written and has conflicting statements.

[Anonymous]

The handbook is poorly written and has many conflicting statements and omissions, like many policies and procedure documents in the DC government. You have to lottery for pre-K for all schools, dual language or not. But the cannot require a lottery application for your assigned, in-bound school, even if it's dual language. Because school is mandatory at age 5 and you have a right to attend your IB school.

[Anonymous]

Kid currently at OA and there is no lottery application or process for in-bound students.

[Anonymous]

You may need an application for a school with both English only and dual language tracks, like Marie Reed. You’re guaranteed an IB seat at the school starting in K, but not necessarily in the dual language program.

[Anonymous]

We are near (but not IB to) a dual language school but have absolutely no chance of getting in by lottery. It is a shame that DCPS offers these programs to just the people who live in a certain geographic area. Dual language programs should be equally open to all (subject to balancing for english and foreign-language dominant, and sibling preference).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are near (but not IB to) a dual language school but have absolutely no chance of getting in by lottery. It is a shame that DCPS offers these programs to just the people who live in a certain geographic area. Dual language programs should be equally open to all (subject to balancing for english and foreign-language dominant, and sibling preference).

I agree with this. I find it really inequitable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are near (but not IB to) a dual language school but have absolutely no chance of getting in by lottery. It is a shame that DCPS offers these programs to just the people who live in a certain geographic area. Dual language programs should be equally open to all (subject to balancing for english and foreign-language dominant, and sibling preference).

I agree with this. I find it really inequitable.

It's how the lottery based school system in DC works. There are seats at a dual language school if you want them, just not the school you want. I completely agree there should be a citywide dual language school (or full immersion like in MCPS), like Capitol Hill Montessori or Military Road ELC, but you can't make all neighborhood dual language schools lottery based because they're still neighborhood schools first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are near (but not IB to) a dual language school but have absolutely no chance of getting in by lottery. It is a shame that DCPS offers these programs to just the people who live in a certain geographic area. Dual language programs should be equally open to all (subject to balancing for english and foreign-language dominant, and sibling preference).

It's not offered only to people who live in a certain geographic area... there are lottery spots.

I think it's good that DC offers some in-bound spots for families that don't want to play the lottery. There's always going to be someone unhappy with how the lottery works, but I think DC does a good job of balancing the options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are near (but not IB to) a dual language school but have absolutely no chance of getting in by lottery. It is a shame that DCPS offers these programs to just the people who live in a certain geographic area. Dual language programs should be equally open to all (subject to balancing for english and foreign-language dominant, and sibling preference).

I agree with this. I find it really inequitable.

It's how the lottery based school system in DC works. There are seats at a dual language school if you want them, just not the school you want. I completely agree there should be a citywide dual language school (or full immersion like in MCPS), like Capitol Hill Montessori or Military Road ELC, but you can't make all neighborhood dual language schools lottery based because they're still neighborhood schools first.

I agree with this. I would like to see DCPS create more dual language schools and make a new city-wide option available but leave the neighborhood schools as is. There are benefits to a neighborhood school, but there's clear demand for more dual language programs.

[Anonymous]

I'm curious what the appetite is for city wide DL DCPS run schools that operate like Charter schools as opposed to expanding charter DL options that provide no IB preference. Like should the focus be on DCPS to do something new like create an Oyster-Adams model immersion that is city wide or to expand the DL offerings at schools like LAMB, DCB, and Stokes. For what's it's worth, it seems like DC as a whole has invested a lot more into DL and creating access to DL than neighboring jurisdictions.