update - boarddocs, a diligent brand · 2019. 6. 20. · a robust language program k-12 spanish,...

City School District of New RochelleEmbracing Diversity...Driving Success

World Language CommitteeUpdate

March 5, 2019

www.nred.org @NewRochelleEd #NewRoSchools

World Language in New Rochelle

The City School District of New Rochelle (CSDNR) is committed to providing a comprehensive, integrated, and differentiated World Language experience that prepares our students linguistically and culturally to live and participate in a worldwide community.

In CSDNR we offer:

● A robust language program K-12 ● Spanish, French, Italian, Mandarin and Latin with a corresponding AP for each language● More World Language offerings than several of our neighboring districts with a

corresponding AP course


Pathways to Earning World Language Credits2018 Graduates

NYS requires graduates to earn one credit in a Language Other Than English (LOTE).

371 of our 2018 graduates pursued a World Language credit at the middle school level. Of those students:

● 93% percent earned one World Language credit in Middle School

● 99% of students continued to pursue World Language at the High School

● 80% of students received 3 or more World Language credits by graduation


Benefits of FLESHelena Curtain and Carol Pesola (1994), Gladys Lipton (1992) and Myriam Met (1998), all widely known educators in the field of language acquisition in the elementary school, have summarized a variety of research findings in their books. They provide significant rationale for early world language learning, including the following:

● Children have the ability to learn and excel in the pronunciation of foreign language (Krashen, et al. 1982).

● Participation in early foreign language learning shows positive results in areas of standardized testing such as English, Language Arts, Math

and SAT scores.

● Children who had studied a foreign language show greater cognitive development in such areas as mental flexibility, creativity, divergent

thinking, and higher order thinking skills. (Landry, 1974; Hakuta, 1990)

● Foreign language study has shown to enhance listening skills, memory and a greater understanding of one's own language. (Lapkin, et al.,

1990)

● Children studying a foreign language have an improved self-concept and sense of achievement in school. (Holobrow, et al., 1987; Caine &

Caine, 1997)

● Children who have studied a foreign language develop a sense of cultural pluralism, openness and appreciation of other cultures. (Pesola,

1991; Curtain, 1993; Met, 1995)


2018-2019 Current Elementary Spanish FLES Programs and Population


Equitable options require tradeoffs

To achieve the equity called for in the guiding change document, we are considering changing several program design elements:

● Number of languages offered in elementary ● What grade level to start world language learning● Frequency - how often the classes meet ● Duration - how long the classes are● Intensity - how the students are grouped


Option 3

The World Language Committee presented three options to the Board of Education and Option 3 was chosen.


Option 3: Equalizing Spanish FLES Offerings● FLES Spanish offering across district beginning in grade 1● Gradual phase out of Mandarin and Italian FLES programs● Redistribution of Spanish teachers at the elementary level ● Centralizing teachers redistribution, curriculum, benchmarks,

teacher schedules, frequency of offering, and variations by grade level

● Program design may run on a six day schedule● No/minimal additional cost to District

Option 3 Amendment

● Eliminate CILA program at Ward Elementary School


Pros and Cons of Option 3:Pros:● Trinity and Columbus launch partial FLES immediately● Language offerings start early and are equitable across all schools● No/minimal additional cost to the district

Cons:● Eliminates Mandarin and Italian● Spanish is the only language at the elementary level● Staffing implications


Option 3A

District Wide Dual Language Program ● Create a district wide Dual Language Program at Ward School ● District will create a system, such as a lottery which selects students from each

elementary school in Kindergarten to populate the program● Students who attend the district wide Dual Language program at Ward will

attend their home middle school● The district will use the 2019-2020 school year to plan for implementation in

September 2020


Option 3 2019 - 2020 2020 - 2021 2021 - 2022 2022 - 2023 2023 - 2024

BarnardPhase Out:

Phase In:

Italian FLES 1

Spanish FLES K

Italian FLES Grade 2

Spanish FLESGrade 1

Spanish FLESGrade 2

- -

ColumbusPhase In:

Spanish FLES 1st Gr.

Spanish FLES 2nd Gr.

Spanish FLES 3rd Gr.

Spanish FLES 4th Gr.


DavisPhase Out: Mandarin

3rd - 5th Gr. Mandarin

4th & 5th Gr. Mandarin

5th Gr. -

JeffersonPhase Out:After School Italian

Italian FLES 4th & 5th Gr.

Italian FLES5th Gr.

- - -

TrinityPhase In:

Spanish FLES 1st Gr.

Spanish FLES 2nd Gr.

Spanish FLES 3rd Gr.



WardPhase Out:

Phase In:

Spanish CILA 2nd - 5th Gr.

Prep Year for Districtwide DL

Spanish CILA3rd - 5th Gr.

DL 1st Gr.

Spanish CILA4th & 5th Gr.

DL 1st - 2nd Gr.

Spanish CILA 5th Gr.

DL 1st - 3rd Gr. DL 1st - 4th Gr.

WebsterPhase Out:

Mandarin (KAL)5th Gr. - - - -

Option 3: Six-Day Cycle (sample)

Grades 1, 2, 3: Spanish class meets once every three days

Grades 4, 5: Spanish class meets every other day


2018-2019 Current Elementary Mandarin and Italian FLES Programs and Population


2018-2019 Current Middle and High School Mandarin and Italian Program Populations


Option 3: FLES Program RestructuringYear 2019 - 2020: ● Phase out Italian instruction at Barnard and begin Spanish Instruction with a first grade

cohort.● Italian instruction will be transitioned to a comparable after school program. Italian

teacher from Jefferson to move to Middle School vacancy. ● Begin cohorts of Spanish FLES instruction at Columbus and Trinity. One full time

teacher will be hired utilizing Italian teaching position at Jefferson. This Spanish FLES position will be of no cost for the district. This teacher will work on a six day schedule alternating between Trinity and Columbus.

● Phase out of Mandarin program at Webster in Kaleidoscope Grades fourth and fifth. ● Phase out begins of Mandarin program at Davis with second grade. ● Plan for district wide Dual Language program at Ward


Option 3: FLES Program Restructuring

Year 2020 - 2021: ● Mandarin at Webster completely phased out

Year 2021 - 2022: ● Italian at Jefferson completely phased out

Year 2022 - 2023: ● Mandarin program at Davis completely phased out


update - boarddocs, a diligent brand · 2019. 6. 20. · a robust language program k-12 spanish,...

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