The organizers have shared nothing about their background that suggests they know what they are doing. They haven't even suggested what grades this school would serve, although their survey is talking about Advanced Placement.

Openly inviting non-DC residents to participate in the information session is also odd to me.

None of the above has anything to do with the current Russian government but still make me leery.

Wow, so many uniformed comments here! First of all, Russian is a world language with an incredibly rich history and literature, going far beyond any immediate political issues. I SERIOUSLY doubt the charter proposal has anything at all to do with current affairs. Second of all, many (not all) of the Russian/Slavic immigrants I know are also highly literate and highly interested in raising their children literate in their mother languages. So that a group of Russian parents would propose this, despite the relative small size of the Russian speaking world in DC and overall, makes a lot of sense to me.

That said, I think immersion and immersion charters are overdone in DC and the need for yet another language immersion charter is questionable. But that's got nothing to do with the Russian language itself.

Posted on the Takoma neighborhood listserv:

"Dear parents or parents-to-be,

There is a potential to open a Russian bilingual charter school (Tolstoy Academy) in NW DC in the fall of 2018.

Please take a survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WGG77PK to help built the case to be presented to DC Public Charter School Board, finalize the location, as well as help to develop Curriculum and Instruction department.

The two dates for Tolstoy Academy Interest Group meetings will be Tuesday, June 13th at 6.30 p.m. and Saturday, June 17th at 1.30 p.m.

Both meetings will be held at Shepherd Park (Juanita E. Thornton) Library at 7420 Georgia Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20012.

The organizers will share vision of the school, explain the process of creating the Academy, and answer your questions. You will be able meet team members , mingle with other parents and discuss Tolstoy Academy related topics. The organizers are looking forward to meeting with you; they need your input, your ideas, and your support.

Your RSVPs would be appreciated at the Tolstoy Academy in DC Facebook page.

All members of the community are welcome: DC residents and suburbia dwellers, parents of potential students and anyone interested in Russia related topics.

Regards,
Svetlana, Ward 4 resident"

This is interesting. We're in Maryland but I would have strongly considered this if we'd been in DC. My kids aren't heritage Russian speakers but my partner and I both speak Russian as a 2nd language.

I can totally see this working. Russian language instruction, art, music, chess. Kind of like how Sela isn't just for heritage Hebrew speakers.

Anonymous wrote:PP, not true, schools can still get approved this fall for next summer/fall opening.

Ah, right you are. Didn't realize PCSB had added a Fall application round
.

Anonymous wrote:NP. This is real--I also just saw this on a Ward 4 listserv.

Funnily enough, one of my kid's best friends at her Ward 4 EOTP elementary speaks Russian as her first language. Maybe there are a few more kids like this around!

Children are too young for Russian work!

I would have loved a preschool and school for my child.

PP, not true, schools can still get approved this fall for next summer/fall opening.

Anonymous wrote:I just got an email from the neighborhood listserv (Ward 4) about a potential new Russian language charter for SY 18-19. Tolstoy Academy. It sounds like they're putting together an application for the DCPCSB; they have a FB page and some parent interest meetings scheduled for this month. Not sure where this will go, if anywhere, but FYI.

The school wouldn't be able to open in 2018-19. The next round of charter school applications will be due in early 2018 and voted on in May 2018. Schools that are approved then have a planning and funding year and open in August/September 2019,

Anonymous wrote:NP. This is real--I also just saw this on a Ward 4 listserv.

Funnily enough, one of my kid's best friends at her Ward 4 EOTP elementary speaks Russian as her first language. Maybe there are a few more kids like this around!

https://www.facebook.com/events/284865898642171/?ti=icl

NP. This is real--I also just saw this on a Ward 4 listserv.

Funnily enough, one of my kid's best friends at her Ward 4 EOTP elementary speaks Russian as her first language. Maybe there are a few more kids like this around!

Russian is considered a strategic language. That kind of thing tends to change over time, but knowledge of Russian could be of added value in job hunting some day.

Actually, I had an old neighbor who was sincerely looking for Russian day care and schools a few years ago. I've moved and my new neighbors send their kids to Russian school. There *are* Russian people here! And yes, I am as left as they come.

According to the 2015 ACS, there are only 1,895 Russian speakers in DC. Total

I just got an email from the neighborhood listserv (Ward 4) about a potential new Russian language charter for SY 18-19. Tolstoy Academy. It sounds like they're putting together an application for the DCPCSB; they have a FB page and some parent interest meetings scheduled for this month. Not sure where this will go, if anywhere, but FYI.