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Y East spotlight: district highlights multilingual programs and measured gains
Summary
At the board meeting, Dr. Brian Fox and Y East principal Kate DeWine highlighted multilingual programming, parent engagement and measurable gains, including a 10% decrease in multilingual learners not progressing on WIDA and students earning high-school language credits.
The board received a teaching, learning and equity update focused on Y East (Way East) schools and multilingual supports.
Dr. Brian Fox introduced Principal Kate DeWine and bilingual family liaison Tiffany Fong Wirtanen, who described year‑four family partnerships, monthly Hispanic parent groups, translated communications and a newcomer class that provides foundational reading and writing support to newly arrived students. DeWine said the school embeds language across content areas and works to hire staff who reflect student languages.
DeWine highlighted measurable outcomes: "more than 100 students spend a significant portion of their day learning in Spanish," and staff reported a 10% decrease in multilingual learners not progressing on the annual WIDA test. She said the dual language cohort in eighth grade earned the equivalent of 90 high school language credits last year, and combining dual and non‑dual language students accounted for 180 high school language credits earned.
Board members thanked the presenters and applauded family engagement and student outcomes. The board was told the next teaching, learning and equity presentation at the March 10 meeting will focus on Cascade Tech Academy.
