Elementary Feeder School Structure Committee: Dual Language Immersion Program

PROCESS COMPLETE

Last Updated February 11, 2022

Overview

The elementary immersion feeder schools have been in place since Claremont opened as the second elementary immersion school in 2003. In that time, enrollment levels across the county have changed creating an enrollment and demographic imbalance in the feeder schools to Key and Claremont. In fall 2021, Escuela Key opened in its new location, inside the Ashlawn boundary. Staff proposed making minimal changes to the Immersion Elementary feeder structure for 2021-22 given the impact of the pandemic on families and to allow time for the Task Force leading the immersion visioning process to provide a recommendation on the program model. The Elementary Feeder School Structure Committee will commence work in September 2021 after the Task Force identifies the recommended program model for the Dual Language Immersion program in August. On Dec. 2, 2021, the School Board approved the Superintendent’s recommended adjustments to the Elementary Dual Language Immersion feeders, effective school year 2022-23. 

Status Update

• Dec. 3- Intent Forms for Elementary Immersion families whose students attend the Immersion School that is Outside of Feeder
  • Emailed to families on December 3, 2021 through K-12 Insight – Complete online by Friday, December 10
    • Student(s) who attend Claremont and live Escuela Key feeder zone- ENGLISH | SPANISH
    • Student(s) who attend Escuela Key and live in the Claremont feeder zone- ENGLISH | SPANISH
• Dec. 2, 2021 the School Board approved the Superintendent’s recommended adjustments to the Elementary Dual Language Immersion feeders, effective school year 2022-23.
  • Watch the presentation (Begins at 1:32:17) or view the presentation online (slides 6-7)

• • Elementary Dual Dual Language Immersion Map-FINAL (Effective 2022-23) 

• Nov. 22- School Talk to Elementary Immersion Families whose students attend the Immersion School that is Outside of Feeder
  • This message applies to applies to the following:
    • Student(s) who attend Claremont and live in the Escuela Key feeder zone
    • Student(s) who attend Escuela Key and live in the Claremont feeder zone
  • MESSAGE – English | Spanish
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION – English | Spanish
• Nov. 16- School Board Information Item – Superintendent’s Proposal for Boundary Adjustments and Elementary Immersion Feeder for the 2022-23 School Year
  • Presentation
  • Meeting Recording (Presentation begins at 3:19:18)
• Oct. 29- Update to DLI Community –
  • School Talk: English | Spanish
  • Community Feedback Survey #2  (Complete by Monday, November 8)  –  English | Spanish
  • Presentation: English | Spanish 
  • Maps
    • Committee’s proposed recommended feeder structure
    • Alternative Options Considered – Map B | Map C
  • Analysis of Committee’s recommended feeder structure and alternative options considered (data tables)
• Oct. 25 – Immersion Elementary Feeder Structure Committee – Meeting #3- 7:00-8:15 pm
  • Agenda
  • Meeting Recording
  • Data Tables (Updated 10/22/2021)
• Oct. 13 – Immersion Elementary Feeder Structure Committee – Meeting #2- 7:00-8:15 pm
  • Agenda
  • Meeting Recording
• Sept 27-  Immersion Elementary Feeder Structure Committee – Meeting #1- 7:00-8:15 pm
  • Agenda
  • Data Tables
  • Meeting Recording
  • Information resources to update dual language immersion community
    • Handout – English | Spanish
    • PowerPoint – English | Spanish
    • Community Feedback Survey #1 – Complete by Tuesday, October 12
      • Claremont – English | Spanish
      • Escuela Key- English | Spanish
      • Gunston Immersion – English | Spanish
      • Wakefield Immersion – English | Spanish
• Aug 26- School Board Presentation of 2021-22 Planning Projects – See slide 18
• Aug 24- Dual Language Immersion Visioning Task Force confirms continuation of the Two-Way Immersion program model
• June 9- School talk message to dual language immersion community, K-12 – TOPIC: Update on DLI Visioning Process and Elementary Feeder Structure Committee – English | Spanish
• May 2- School talk message to dual language immersion community, K-12 – TOPIC: Announcement of DLI Visioning Task Force and Elementary Feeder Structure Committee members – English | Spanish

Process

The Immersion Elementary Feeder School Structure Committee consists of APS staff and parent representatives from each immersion school community. This committee will make a recommendation for adjustments to the current immersion elementary school feeder structure and how this will apply to current students impacted by the recommendation. The recommendation from this committee will be considered by a cross-departmental team of APS Central Office staff, who will make a recommendation to the Superintendent. The Superintendent will make a recommendation to the School Board and the School Board will act on the Superintendent’s recommendation. The community will be kept informed on this work and multiple feedback opportunities will be provided.

Goals 

Ensure the feeder structure achieves the following:

• Supports the Two-Way program model for the Dual Language Immersion program 
  • 50% heritage/native Spanish speakers and
  • 50% English speakers & non-Spanish speaking English Learners
  • While the lottery process allocates seats for incoming Kindergarten accordingly, the feeder structure determines the pool of applicants for each Immersion school.
• Considers equity and access
  • Transportation is a key consideration with regard to the feeder structure. This includes travel distance to the assigned school as well as modes of transportation available to students and families to access the school
  • Priority given to those communities with the most transportation challenges (or the fewest transportation options – all modes of transportation) and greatest need for transportation
• Makes efficient use of APS countywide transportation
  • The closer students are to their school, the more quickly buses can make their trips and get students to school on time. This contributes to the overall efficiency of the system, as shorter trips allow the buses to be used for another school with a different start time
• Maintaining manageable enrollment levels at both facilities 
  • Maintains manageable enrollment levels at both schools by considering the proportions of enrollment feeding into Claremont and Escuela Key, schools with different capacities.
• Promotes demographic diversity at Key and Claremont
  • Have similar proportions of Spanish speakers and students eligible for Free/Reduced lunch in the Claremont and Key feeder schools
• Address how the proposed feeder structure applies to current and future students

Process to form the Elementary Feeder School Structure Committee

• Central Office staff – Department Supervisors recommended a staff member from their Department. Preference was given to staff who are bilingual (Spanish/English) and/or have experience with the Dual Language Immersion program. Representatives from the Equity Office and Transportation Office were included.
• School-based Administrator- Elementary Principals identified whether they or a designee would serve on the Elementary Feeder School Structure Committee
• Parents – At the elementary and middle school level, PTA presidents from each school identified a member or former member of their school community to serve as the parent rep on the elementary feeder school structure committee.
• Bilingual parents are preferred (Spanish/English) but not required.
• Must have a child in the Dual Language Immersion program or one who completed the APS Dual Immersion program.
• Knowledge of the Dual Language Immersion program

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Elementary Feeder School Structure Committee  (Led by Planning & Evaluation Office)

Central Office Staff- Jonathan Turrisi, Director of Strategic Planning

Daryl Johnson, Director of Strategic Outreach

James Sample, Office of Equity & Inclusion

Kristin Haldeman, Transportation Office

Corina Coronel, Coordinator of the Welcome Center & Language Services Registration Center

Wakefield

Parents (2) – Ana Carolina Prieto, Mary Gunderson

Gunston 

Parents (2)-Melania Saraniero. Adon Hwang

Claremont

Parents (3)-Paula Cordero-Salas, Rachel Berkey, Emily Teeter

Key

Parents (3) – Ethan Kearns, Gillian Burgess, Susi Menazza, Tonya Murphy

Elementary Administrators/Designee (2) -Jessica Panfil (Claremont), Heidi Heim (Key), Marleny Perdomo (Key)

Community Members

Heather Carkuff- Advisory Council on School Facilities and Capital Programs (FAC) liaison

Announcement date of all Committee members –  Monday, May 3

Committee Meeting Dates (Elementary Feeder Structure)

#1- Sept 27, 2021 – 7pm – 8:15

#2- Oct 13, 2021 – 7pm – 8:15

#3- Oct 25, 2021 – 7pm – 8:15

#4- Nov 8, 2021 – 7pm – 8:15

Timeline

Resources

Elementary Feeder School Structure Map (for 2021-22)

Data Tables (Shared on Sept 27, 2021)