The School Committee said “si” to a language immersion program for elementary school students.

The International Educational Systems (IES) Language Foundation will begin offering after-school classes for students in November. Parents must pay for the 24-week program, but scholarships are available for families who cannot afford the lessons.

Carol Ryan, a Plymouth resident and part-time teacher at the Bay Farm Montessori Academy, will coordinate the program.

IES offers instruction in four languages – Spanish, French, Mandarin and Arabic. Elementary schools can individually decide which language to offer but, thus far, it’s been unanimous. Seven of eight local schools have already agreed to offer the program and all seven have chosen Spanish as the language to be taught.

Ryan grew up speaking Arabic at home and teaches French and Spanish.

Each school will offer two after school session – one for student in kindergarten through grade 2 and the other for grades 3 through 5.

IES started offering language programs in 1982 in San Francisco. The program arrived in Massachusetts in 1990. Hingham and Quincy already offer the program on the South Shore.

Ryan, who has two children who are about to enter the local school system, approached administrators with the idea last year.

The IES program is especially helpful because it works with students when they are young and most able to absorb a new language.

Tead more here.