Bilingual study seeks parents
School board calls for final review and recommendation for Bilingual Education programs
Parent volunteers asked to serve
WALLA WALLA – The Walla Walla Public Schools Board of Directors has tasked new Superintendent Wade Smith to continue studying the district’s Bilingual Education program through the formation of a new Stakeholder Recommendation Committee. This new committee consists of parents from each bilingual program campus and both middle schools, bilingual and English-only strand teachers, select district staff, superintendent and school board representatives. The superintendent and school board representatives are charged with submitting program recommendations to the school board by February 2017.
The study process includes a historical review of past and current district bilingual programs, examination of applicable state and federal laws, requirements and mandates associated with bilingual education programs, assessment of findings from the 2015-16 Bilingual Steering Team, deliberate parent and staff feedback opportunities and additional study and research as needed.
“We will ensure during this study process there are multiple opportunities for parent, stakeholder, and staff input for program recommendations,” Superintendent Smith said. “All recommendations must be financially sustainable and programmatically feasible, research-based to best support the needs of English learner students and ensure optimal learning environments for non-participating students.”
The Board of Directors also charged the committee to consider continued exposure of second language acquisition skills to native English language speakers when feasible.
The committee will convene in September and meet on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the District Office Boardroom. The Board of Directors has asked for program recommendations during the Feb. 21, 2017 school board meeting to be considered for implementation Fall of 2017.
How to apply:
Interested elementary school parents are asked to fill out an application and submit no later than 4 p.m. Tuesday, September 6. Application forms are available at Sharpstein, Edison, Green Park and Blue Ridge Elementary Schools and on the district web page – Bilingual Programs.
Submit completed forms by mail, email, or hand deliver to:
Walla Walla Public Schools
Attn: Christy Krutulis
364 S Park St
Walla Walla, WA 99362
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