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Meeting Date:
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11/22/2019 - 7:00 PM
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Category:
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Curriculum and Instruction
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Type:
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Info
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Subject:
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Dual Language Program
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ACPS 2025 Strategic Plan Goal:
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Goal 1: Academic Excellence and Educational Equity
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Funding Source or Fiscal Impact (where applicable)
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File Attachment:
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Agenda Item Summary:
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Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is pursuing expansion of the Dual Language Program model to the middle school level to achieve the program goals of bilingualism, biliteracy, and cross-cultural understanding for students, and promote the cognitive benefits and high levels of academic achievement associated with bilingualism and dual language education. A Dual Language Program strand in middle school consists of two courses in Spanish: Spanish language arts and one content area. The proposed content area for ACPS is social studies. To meet the goal of optimally providing program services to families on both the east and west sides of Alexandria City, and to accommodate future expansion of the Dual Language Program at John Adams Elementary School, consideration is being given to offering dual language at two middle school sites: George Washington Middle School and Francis C. Hammond Middle School. The proposed timeline for implementation is the following: SY 2020-2021: 6th grade, SY 2021-2022: 7th grade, and SY 2022-2023: 8th grade.
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Background:
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Dual Language Programs are a form of enrichment education based on over 40 years of research showing the advantages of learning a second language through academic content instruction. Expansion of the Dual Language Program to the secondary level will support the program goals of biliteracy, bilingualism, high achievement, and cultural competence for students, and enable more students to reach the advanced levels of second language proficiency in demand in today’s global economy. The initiative will also respond to requests from parents of current dual language students, a majority of whom have indicated that they would like this option for their children.
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Recommendation:
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The Superintendent recommends that the School Board review the attached ACPS Dual Language Program and Data Overview: Spring 2019, and the attached document Dual Language Expansion to Middle School Project Plan: Strategies and Action Steps.
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Approvals:
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Recommended By:
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Signed By:
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Dr. Terri H. Mozingo - Chief Academic Officer
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Signed By:
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Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. - Superintendent
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