Mandarin Immersion Parents Council

Information for parents of kids in Mandarin immersion education

recent posts

about

  • Texas district adds Mandarin to retain and recruit students

    The Fort Bend Independent School district, southwest of Houston, is launching seven new programs “in the 2026-27 school year as a part of its Fort Bend Redesign program aimed at retaining and recruiting students as district growth stabilizes.”

    The district has faced declining enrollment in the past decade as newer residential communities reach full built-out and with the growth of charter schools in the area. At the grade school level, the district sees immersion as a way to encourage families to stay within the district.

    It’s interesting that the Spanish program they’re launching will start at 80% Spanish and 20% English in Kindergarten, ending at a 50/50 split by third grade. However the Mandarin program will be 70% English and 30% Mandarin for all six years of elementary school.

    That’s not a model I’ve seen before, many schools start at 50/50 and stay there. And technically it’s not full immersion. But I’m going to give it to them none the less.

    Please read more here.

  • Happy Year of the Horse

    Wishing everyone a joyful New Year. Xin Nian Kuai Le! 新年快乐！

  • What does a university Mandarin flagship program look like?

    There’s one in at Western Kentucky University, here’s some info. Some of the flagship programs have been discontinued, but this one is going strong. Something to think about as your students start thinking about college.

    https://www.wku.edu/news/articles/index.php?view=article&articleid=12896

    https://www.wku.edu/chineseflagship/

    https://www.thelanguageflagship.org/

    https://www.thelanguageflagship.org/chinese

  • Newly-updated Mandarin immersion school list for 2026

    We’re up to 396 Mandarin immersion schools in the United States that I’m aware of.

    The link is here.

    And if any of you happen to be fluent (or at least conversational) in WordPress, I could really use 15 minutes on the phone to figure out why the links in the left hand sidebar no longer work. message me at immersioneducation (at) gmail (dot) com.

  • Where Language Meets Opportunity: Inside an Arizona Mandarin Immersion Program

    Sun Times March 18, 2025

    For local families seeking a premier dual-language education, Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) offers an unmatched opportunity. The district’s Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program for Mandarin, housed at Desert Canyon Elementary and Desert Canyon Middle School, is not just an educational experience—it’s a cultural journey that prepares students for a global future.

    A Unique Path to Biliteracy

    At Desert Canyon Elementary School, the DLI program follows a 50/50 model, where students split their day between English and Mandarin instruction.

    In grades K-3, subjects like Reading, Writing, and Social Studies are taught in English, while Math, Science, and Mandarin Language are taught in Mandarin. By grades 4-5, English instruction shifts to Reading, Writing, and Math, with Science, Social Studies, and Mandarin Language taught in Mandarin.

    Please see more here.

  • California schools that need foreign workers for teacher jobs can’t afford new visa fee

    By Sophie Sullivan and Alina Ta, CalMatters, Dec. 14, 2025 

    There is a new cost to hiring an international worker to fill a vital but otherwise vacant position in a California classroom: $100,000.

    In September, the Trump administration began requiring American employers to pay a $100,000 sponsorship fee for new H-1B visas, on top of already required visa application fees that amount to $9,500 to $18,800, depending on various factors. These visas allow skilled and credentialed workers in multiple job sectors to stay in the U.S.

    Most foreign workers on H-1Bs in California work in the tech sector. But California also relies on H-1B visas to address another issue: a nationwide teacher shortage and a high demand for staff in dual-language education and special education in K-12 districts.

    Please read more here.

  • A look at an Australian Mandarin immersion school

    From: The Australian Broadcasting Corporation

    Why are non-migrant families sending their children to bilingual schools?

    Nyssa has never been to China.

    She hasn’t even stepped foot in Chinatown. 

    But when the 6-year-old is with friends at school, she speaks Chinese.

    “It’s like I know how to speak every language in the world,” she said.

    Nyssa studies at a “bilingual school”, where staff and students jump between languages in the classroom and the playground.

    Please read more here.