Late spring decision expected on Illinois Mandarin program

Whether to continue the program as is, create a world language program at all three kindergarten to fourth-grade elementary schools, or designate one as a magnet immersion language school is a decision that will be made in the next two months. The decision will take affect in the 2015-16 academic year.

District administrators currently are meeting with teachers and parents at each elementary school before spring break, the reconvened Language Acquisition and School Integration Committee and the Association of Parents and Teachers to assess how they feel about the options on the table. The administrative team, lead by Superintendent Mike Simeck, met with current Mandarin Immersion parents last week.

Parents in that nearly three-hour session made it clear they love the program and want it to stay as is, even bringing back immersion for incoming kindergarteners. The Board voted unanimously in February to discontinue Mandarin Immersion for the incoming kindergarten class in the 2014-15 academic year, citing declining kindergarten enrollment and a division the program, though admittedly popular and successful, has made among Mandarin and non-Mandarin students at Cherokee School, where the district immersion program is offered.

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