Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Dual Language Instruction topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board hears proposal to start two-way dual-language pilot and expanded literacy supports
Summary
Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Lauren Santa Barbara recommended launching a two-way Spanish-English dual-language pilot (two kindergarten sections: Matthew Patterson and a Kent site) and expanding K—6 literacy benchmarking (MCAS) and professional development linked to CKLA/Amplify; two teachers for the pilot are budgeted as placeholders.
Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Lauren Santa Barbara presented recommended instructional initiatives that the district would like to implement for the 2025-26 school year, focusing on literacy, professional development and a two-way dual-language pilot.
Santa Barbara said the district is instituting a K—6 literacy benchmarking program she called "MCAS" with assessments three times per year plus progress monitoring using Boost; she described MCAS as identifying multiple literacy skill areas and enabling targeted Tier 2/Tier 3 supports through the district—s MTSS structure. On resources, she asked the board to approve ongoing funding for the benchmarking service and noted an estimated textbook cost of about $16,000 to extend CKLA to the district's four pre-K sites.
On language instruction, Santa Barbara recommended the district start a two-way dual-language program at two elementary sites (Matthew Patterson Elementary and one Kent building) beginning with two kindergarten sections next year and adding a grade annually to build a K—12 continuum. She said New York State Part 154 requires districts to begin bilingual programming when there are 20 or more English-language learners in a grade who share a home language; the proposed two-way model would pair native Spanish speakers and native English speakers in a 50/50 split to pursue bilingualism and biliteracy. "My recommendation is that next year we start a 2 way dual language program in 2 elementary schools," Santa Barbara told the board.
Staff explained that teacher hiring for this pilot will require bilingual-extension certification and that two teacher positions and PD costs for the program are currently included as placeholders in the working budget. Trustees asked for further cost and staffing details; Santa Barbara and the superintendent said the two teachers for next year are incorporated into the current budget draft and that the program rollout will be staged by grade as demand and capacity allow.
Next steps: staff will return with implementation and staffing details, clarify the budgetary placeholders and coordinate outreach and application procedures for parents who wish to opt into the program.
