Students and educators urge PGCPS to keep Mandarin, Spanish immersion programs

A student and a retired teacher urged the Prince George's County Board of Education's operations, budget and fiscal affairs committee on Feb. 11 to preserve the district’s Mandarin and Spanish immersion programs as the superintendent’s proposed budget raises questions about program continuity.

Student Ximena Esparza Acero, who identified herself as enrolled in both Mandarin Chinese and Spanish immersion programs, told the committee that immersion education is more than language instruction: "Through immersion, students gain fluency, cultural awareness, and real life opportunities," she said, adding that closing the programs would "take away these life opportunities from future students." She said immersion helped her feel a sense of belonging and opened opportunities such as study‑abroad and career paths.

Retired teacher Weta Stalker, who said she now works with pre‑K children, described the Chinese immersion program as "a program that needs to be continued," and suggested operational changes such as a lottery, scheduling adjustments and centralizing the program at Eleanor Roosevelt STEM School to increase participation. Stalker also cited workforce outcomes: "This gives many children after 13 years from kindergarten to twelfth grade ... they can go out in the world and they could get a job ... He's making over a $100,000 working to translate" — an example she used to illustrate long‑term benefits.

Stalker referenced program scale and per‑student investment as part of her plea, saying, as spoken during public comment, "right now, this budget, you are investing $3,423.42 into 555 children." The figure was presented by the speaker in oral testimony.

The committee did not take formal action on the immersion programs during the Feb. 11 meeting. Budget staff earlier in the meeting advised that the district’s budget process includes an amendment tracker, and that the board will vote on the requested budget to transmit to the county at the Feb. 26 board meeting. Staff encouraged members and community members to submit amendment proposals or feedback in advance so changes can be considered before that vote.

Next steps: the district's budget office will continue the public budget work session on Feb. 12, and the full board is scheduled to vote on the requested budget on Feb. 26. No formal decision about immersion program closures was recorded at the Feb. 11 committee meeting.