A new program being considered for some of Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp.’s youngest students will create bilingual learners.
Targeted to pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students, the program would create classes made up of half native Spanish speakers and the other half native English speakers, said Laura Hack, BCSC’s director of elementary education.
Two classes would be offered for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students beginning in the 2018-19 school year at one location that has yet to be determined, Hack said.
Under the proposal, students would be taught English and Spanish by a native Spanish speaker — while students would be immersed in Spanish for most of the day. Participation in the program would be voluntary and families would apply to have their students in the program.
“The ratio will be a part of the planning that will occur this school year, but we are considering an 80/20 model, or 80 percent of the school day being taught in Spanish and 20 percent in English,” said Jim Roberts, BCSC superintendent.
For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Republic.
