District requirements for alternative program
(1)
Educationally sound
(2 )....and
addressing diverse educational needs
(3) Demonstrated interest in the community
(4) Fiscally sound within financial resources
(5) Enrollment non-discriminatory
(1) Educationally sound...
Immersion education has > 30 years of success in N America, including
6+ years in PAUSD.
Modeled on the academically successful and well-received Spanish Immersion
(SI) program.
Six Chinese immersion programs in the US.
(2) ...and addressing diverse educational needs
Distinctive from other available school programs.
High demand for elementary foreign language instruction.
Meets needs of English Language Learner.
Increase immigrant parent involvement.
(3) Community interest
Rapidly spreading by word of mouth among Palo Alto parents.
Additional surveying through PTA newsletter, preschool distribution,
libraries, YMCA, Chinese newspapers, Chinese schools, and adoption
agencies.
Planned PA Weekly, PA Daily, Los Altos Town Crier, and SJ Mercury
interviews.
(4) Fiscally sound within financial resources
SI shows operating costs on par with regular programs.
Parent fundraising and grants to cover start-up costs (Chinese-language
library and classroom books).
Parents volunteer for facilitation assistance with district administration.
(5) Enrollment non-discriminatory
District-wide open enrollment.
Separate lotteries for Chinese and English speakers anticipated.
Students with special needs welcome, based on individual needs after
assessment.