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Spanish-immersion parents ask for clarity after honors and placement changes
Summary
Parents whose children have been in the Desert Willow Spanish immersion program said they were surprised by changes to honors placement and course sequencing, and asked the board for an explanation of the pathway for immersion students.
Several parents told the board they were surprised by recent changes to honors and placement for South Desert Willow Spanish immersion students and requested clear guidance on the pathway to high-school Spanish credit.
Virginia Sierra, who said she has three children in the district who went through the Desert Willow Spanish immersion program, said the program’s prior honors Spanish option is no longer available and that immersion students were being placed in courses described as "a, b, and c" with a 100‑question placement exam administered to students. Sierra said immersion students who have been in the program since preschool were placed into beginner classes and that the metrics used for placement were not explained to parents. She asked for clarity about how Desert Willow immersion students will progress toward high-school Spanish credit and honors placement.
Board members requested a follow-up in a board update on Spanish immersion placement and on whether sixth graders and seventh graders at Sonoran Trails are affected. Superintendent Dolezal and staff agreed the item could be included in an upcoming board update.
No formal action was taken at the meeting; staff were asked to report back with details about the placement process and the pathway to honors and high-school credit.
