What if I don’t want my child in the Spanish Dual Immersion program?
This would be an opt-in program. Only families that choose the Spanish Immersion program would join.

If the program is implemented and I opt in, is my child guaranteed a spot in the program?
There are limits on class size, so not everyone who wants to join the program may be able to.

Who can join the program? Military families? English Learners? Students who need extra support?
In grades TK-1, any student can join the Spanish immersion program. There are no special requirements. After December of 1st grade, students need to show they already know enough Spanish to enter the program. Military families who may move before 5th grade are still welcome. Even if they can't finish the full program, they may find a similar bilingual program at their next location. For all families, the decision to join the bilingual program is a decision made by the parents in the best interest of their child.
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What will happen to the current teachers at MRE?
Each Spanish immersion class is taught by a bilingual, BCLAD-certified teacher. To have one class per grade TK-5, MRE would need 8 total BCLAD teachers over 5 years.

 

The school can get these bilingual teachers in a few ways:

• When any teacher retires or leaves, fill the open position with a BCLAD teacher 

• Have a current Spanish-speaking teacher at MRE get BCLAD certified

• As the last resort, “excess” an English-only teacher to open a position for a bilingual teacher

"Excessing" is a transfer process; the excessed teacher will still have a job with the school district but at a different site. The decision of who is excessed is based on seniority, unless there is a volunteer.

How will this affect the choice program?
This will not affect the number of Choice spots available at MRE. Families applying through the Choice program who want to enter the Spanish Dual Immersion program will not be treated any differently in the Choice lottery.

 

Aside from the language used for instruction, how will this affect classrooms?

Because students would stay in the Spanish Immersion or English-only program they selected, they may be more likely to have the same classmates each year. Since having two programs also limits flexibility in assigning classrooms as the school student body changes each year, there could be more combo classes (two grades combined in one classroom) than if this program is not implemented.

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Is there an established curriculum in Spanish?

The curriculum is provided by the district, and the same content is taught as in English-only classrooms.

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Where would the Spanish-language materials come from?

Spanish-language textbooks are provided by the district.  MRE would be responsible for providing classroom libraries.  This cost could be offset by donations and fundraising.