Lack of Language Instruction in elementary school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When most of the children at your school are so poor that their families live on less than $40k a year, having the PTA raise the money for FLES is, quite frankly, impossible.

Most children in DCPS are very, very poor. Something that is often forgotten on this board.

I would argue FLES is on DCPS.

Yes, I agree with that cost makes it very difficult for most DCPS parents; but the point I was trying to make is that even if cost wasn't an issue, FLES is not the kind of program which is integrated with the school day and thus, it's not really something DCPS would do. IB however is different & DCPS should be supporting that.

The cost issue is the same in MCPS by the way. Elementary schools (except for a few immersion schools) don't generally have language, and the schools in the "red zone " (i.e. high poverty have a hard time paying for that).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're sending our kid to a public school, but are really, really discouraged by the lack of any language classes. What have other parents done to compensate?

We send ours to Communikids language/enrichment. Not cheap, but bilingualism is an educational priority for our family that we realized wasn't going to be met fully in a regular DCPS. Which I find ridiculously frustrating in one of the most global cities in America.

I actually believe Rhee when she says there should/could be lots of "Oysters" in DC. We just don't feel we can wait that long.

[Anonymous]

"How hard is it to get FLES at a school? The school system has nothing to do with it. FLES is a long-standing language program that runs independent of school systems. At our MCPS school FLES is organized by the PTA and takes place before or after school, like any other outside program. The rub is that parents have to pay for it -- about $200 a year for class once a week the whole year. The issue for FLES isn't on DCPS."

In response to above poster:

I'm a language educator who has taught languages in schools from preschool through high school.

FLES is not a language program that runs independently in school systems. FLES simply means "Foreign Language in Elementary School." Yes, some PTAs fund before or after school FLES programs. DC and Montgomery county schools have some before and after school FLES programs. The PTA charges the families and hires a teacher to teach the classes. The quality varies depending on the teacher. I have seen fabulous teachers, and horrible teachers. Lots of other schools implement the programs as part of the regular curriculum during the school day. In my opinion, this is better as the schools have to hire qualified teachers to put in the classroom, where before or after school programs can hire any warm body who speaks the language (and believe me, they do!). FLES in the regular curriculum can be as little as once a week, or as much as every day. Every district differs. Fairfax County is probably the leader in FLES programs in the area.

Be vocal. The more parents push, the more likely the school will offer language programs.

Good luck. Language programs differ a lot. But remember, the more English in the program, the less they're learning. Should be as much immerison as possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC and Montgomery county schools have some before and after school FLES programs. The PTA charges the families and hires a teacher to teach the classes. The quality varies depending on the teacher. I have seen fabulous teachers, and horrible teachers. Lots of other schools implement the programs as part of the regular curriculum during the school day. In my opinion, this is better as the schools have to hire qualified teachers to put in the classroom, where before or after school programs can hire any warm body who speaks the language (and believe me, they do!). FLES in the regular curriculum can be as little as once a week, or as much as every day. Every district differs. Fairfax County is probably the leader in FLES programs in the area.

Be vocal. The more parents push, the more likely the school will offer language programs.

Good luck. Language programs differ a lot. But remember, the more English in the program, the less they're learning. Should be as much immerison as possible.

Actually, Fairfax County is a leader in the entire nation.