Reply to Asking for Advice - Rejection from Oyster-Adams Preschool

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Here is the DCPS policy on language skills for a child seeking a Spanish dominant seat at one of its schools. This applies to all of them, from Tyler to Oyster. https://enrolldcps.dc.gov/sites/dcpsenrollment/files/page_content/attachments/SY19-20%20DCPS%20Enrollment%20and%20Lottery%20Handbook_FINAL_Nov%202018%20%28English%29.pdf

"Language Dominance (PK3-1 Grades)
To support dual language learning in grades PK3-1, many schools strive to create linguistically balanced classrooms. As such, schools request that applicants identify as “English-dominant” or “Spanish-dominant ” on their lottery application.[b] Language-dominance is defined as the primary language of communication for the applying student.[/b]

After the release of lottery results and prior to enrollment, schools may require students claiming Spanish dominant to be assessed for language proficiency. If the student does not pass the assessment, he or she may be required to forfeit their match in that school's dual language program. In these cases, the applicant will be placed on the school’s non-Spanish dominant waitlist.

Spanish Proficiency Screening (2-12 Grades)
In grades 2-12, students who attend dual language programs are expected to learn grade-level content in Spanish. If the applicant is not currently enrolled in a DCPS or DC public charter school dual language program, he or she will be required to take a Spanish-proficiency test. Testing occurs after lottery matches are released, at the school to which the student was matched. If the student does not pass the assessment, he or she may be required to forfeit their match in that school's dual language program. In these cases, at the parent’s request, the applicant will be placed back on the waitlist of all schools where the student was “not waitlisted.” This request must be made to My School DC by the parent and can only be made once the family has failed the proficiency test.

Note: If one school finds the student does not meet the language requirements, the student is ineligible for ALL DCPS dual language programs in that grade, if applicable."[/quote]

The problem is that no matter how hard one tries, one lives in an English country and therefore the child WILL be bilingual if they spend any time out of the house (in daycare say). By the time they are entering PK4, they also socialize with English speakers regularly. So, in my view if the schools really want this, they should make it an ELL preference. Clearly they already have a way to classify people as ELL. I certainly wish our immersion charter could have an ELL preference! I don't really see why instead they have this slippery and open to testing bias classification which is separate from the ELL designation.

I also agree that there is no way a kid with a Spanish speaking nanny can be Spanish dominant if both parents speak English, sorry.[/quote]

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