Committee recommends Edison Elementary for dual language

Following a year and a half of committee work, a dozen parent meetings in English and Spanish, hundreds of survey responses from staff, parents and community members, and multiple classroom visits, the Bilingual Education Recommendation Committee (BERC) came to consensus on a final recommendation for the school board to consider.

Executive Director of Teaching and Learning Christy Krutulis led the committee and reported the recommendation provides the best bilingual program for Walla Walla Public Schools.

Model Recommendation
• The One School Model was selected to be part of the recommendation.
• The One School Model includes the opportunity to focus on success at one wall-to-wall dual program while maintaining current programming at Blue Ridge Elementary.
• One of the caveats of the committee’s recommendation is that future expansion be considered at Blue Ridge for a two school model if student enrollment and learning outcomes warrant such enhancement.

School Recommendation
• Edison was selected as the site for wall-to-wall dual programming. Edison has a higher Latino population, additional physical space and technology for supporting the success of acquiring a second language, and should Blue Ridge be added will provide a two way dual program on each end of our district.

Roll Out Recommendation
• A final decision about the speed of the roll out has not been finalized. However, the committee will be further discussing the slow and moderate roll out at their final meeting on March 6.

The school board is expected to make a final decision on the recommendation during its March 7 meeting.

The primary reasons for reviewing the program and why changes are needed:
1. Increase academic performance for non-English speaking students (presently being out performed by Hispanics across the state)
2. Improve problematic “traditional” classrooms in dual language schools.
3. Increasing number of Hispanic students entering kindergarten with limited Spanish skills.
4. Some students in English-side of dual struggling academically.
5. Lack of program alignment.