Reply to Bilingual Kids in Language Immersion ES Programs, Which Programs Have Many & Strive to Attract Them?

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Reply to "Bilingual Kids in Language Immersion ES Programs, Which Programs Have Many & Strive to Attract Them?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]PPs are getting lost in the weeds on lottery issues. The language immersion schools tend to play games in their efforts to enroll bilingual kids because they are stuck between a rock and a hard place where admissons are concerned.  With few native speakers on board, such schools aren't in a great position to carry out their missions.  They clearly need to form some sort of consortium, with the DCPS programs involved, joining hands to lobby the charter board and city council education committee for the admissions policies they need to raise standards, and they need to do it year in and year out until sensible compromises have been reached.  Nearby MoCo offers reasonable models for replacing language immersion drop-outs from K+ which could be replicated in DC, probably with little resistance on the ground.  Just because the powers that be aren't biting in 2013 doesn't mean they won't next year, or the year after.  The first DC charters didn't come in until the late 90s.  It's worth remembering that these schools don't have long histories, so nothing is set in stone.  I'd like to see media attention to the issue to build momentum for change.

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MoCo allows test-in lottery for grades 2nd and higher.  They get more attrition from their immersion programs b/c there are many other acceptable options including great neighborhood schools, g&t programs as well as bus service for most students.   Some neighborhoods in DC like Ward 5 does not even have a middle school never mind the quality or test-in gifted programs of any kind or bus service.

Population wise, MoCo is nearly twice DC's size with a much different demographic.  Also, testing-in for their Mandarin program for 2nd grade and higher is only for Mandarin not Cantonese, Shanghainese, or any other dialect.  Since it's 2nd grade that these kids will be sufficiently literate in Mandarin.

DC already allows dual lotteries for dual language programs like at Oyster which MoCo does not do for any of their immersion programs. Perhaps one day, DC may allow the immersion charters to have the same test-in option like MoCo but it'll probably come after they allow DCPS and charters to have a test-in G&T program and allows schools like Bridges to give preference to SN kids in their admissions.
In other words, you're going to have a long wait but since you're so adamant about change, go lobby the charter board.  Honestly, most parents who already have their kids in the immersion charter of their choice don't care.  After all, their kids are already in.  So instead of vehemently criticizing YY and other charters for following charter rules, go do the work for change yourself since you care so much.  Good luck!

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