21:18 Both the FLES program and the immersion program teach core math and science instruction. One just teaches less of it. In other words, even in the FLES schools, children are pulled away from math and science instruction in English and taught math and science instruction in the foreign language instead during their FLES time.

Does anyone know which are the new schools that will be offering FLES?

Anonymous wrote:There are currently 39 schools in FCPS that have FLES out of 139. And then another 12 that have partial immersion or immersion. All of these schools whether they are FLES or immersion teach the language as part of the math and science curriculum. I'm having a hard time believing that there are 88 other elementary schools that don't want FLES.

Maybe because it involves teaching math and science in a language other than English. You should have immersion or you should have language as a special starting in k. It shouldn't involve kids having to take core classes in a language other than English.

Anonymous wrote:The FLES program was opened up to non-immersion schools prior to being offered to the immersion schools. The other schools chose NOT to add the FLES program to their schools, and that's the only reason why it was opened up to an immersion school. I'd be asking why the schools DON'T want the program instead of questioning the equity of the distribution. If FLES were such an attractive program then perhaps the other non-immersion schools would want it first. But it was offered to other schools prior to being offered to the immersion schools, at least according to the presentation the World Languages folks made at our school.

16:32 here.

That's is my understanding as well. We will have both immersion and FLES (which was not well received by many on the staff).

Our FLES school most definitely does lessons (2 days/week) starting in 1st grade. Is it as good as immersion for language learning? No, but it gives kids exposure that they wouldn't get otherwise.

There are currently 39 schools in FCPS that have FLES out of 139. And then another 12 that have partial immersion or immersion. All of these schools whether they are FLES or immersion teach the language as part of the math and science curriculum. I'm having a hard time believing that there are 88 other elementary schools that don't want FLES.

Anonymous wrote:An immersion school is also getting FLES? Unless that school is getting rid of immersion, which I'd be all for, I'll be writing to the school board that they should have their FLES program removed. That is unfair to the other schools that have nothing.

Most of the kids in our immersion school are not in immersion and don't have an language option except immersion, which means taking science and math in Spanish. I don't think that's a great option for a lot of kids. I think a lot of kids do better learning core classes in English.

The FLES program was opened up to non-immersion schools prior to being offered to the immersion schools. The other schools chose NOT to add the FLES program to their schools, and that's the only reason why it was opened up to an immersion school. I'd be asking why the schools DON'T want the program instead of questioning the equity of the distribution. If FLES were such an attractive program then perhaps the other non-immersion schools would want it first. But it was offered to other schools prior to being offered to the immersion schools, at least according to the presentation the World Languages folks made at our school.

An immersion school is also getting FLES? Unless that school is getting rid of immersion, which I'd be all for, I'll be writing to the school board that they should have their FLES program removed. That is unfair to the other schools that have nothing.

Yes. The school where I teach is adding FLES next year. We've had a couple of staff meetings about it. We also currently have an immersion program.

Thanks, 18:50 for all the info. Much appreciated. Now I just need to wait and see which schools get it.

Really? Our school has it and the students get graded on it and even have tests. What grade level did they not attend their fles program?

It's a joke. Our school has it and I'm not impressed. They didn't even do it at all during the second quarter.

Found this in the budget questions and answers document:

http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/95XJAQ4C3FA6/$file/FY2014Responses%20for%20Posting03-19-13.pdf

CD# PR-05 Question #6
FY 2014
BUDGET INFORMATION FORM
School Board Member Requesting Information: Patricia Reed
Answer Prepared By: Sloan Presidio, Susan Quinn
Date Prepared: January 31, 2013
Question:
Please indicate the amount of funds that could be saved by not opening new immersion or FLES
programs in FY 2014, until a study can be done on efficacy and equity.

Response:
The FY 2014 Proposed Budget includes an increase of $1.0 million to expand World Languages
programs to ten additional elementary schools. The $1.0 million will be the savings realized by not
opening new foreign language immersion or FLES programs in FY 2014.
Here is the narrative description from the FY 2014 Proposed Budget document, page 44:
World Languages programs in elementary schools will be expanded to ten additional schools to address
Student Achievement Goal 1.2. In FY 2014, eight schools will fully implement the Foreign Languages in
the Elementary Schools (FLES) program at all grade levels and two schools will implement the Foreign
Language Immersion program. Funding provides 12.0 teacher positions, as well as staff development,
translations, and materials. The specific schools will be identified and included in the FY 2014 Approved
Budget.

Does anyone know if Fairfax County is planning to add Foreign Language in the Elementary Schools (FLES) to any schools for the 2013-2014 school year? I asked our school principal a while back about adding the program and he indicated it was only a matter of time before FLES was in all elementary schools. Wondering if anyone has heard anything about this.

TIA!