The Del Mar Union School District is exploring adding foreign language to its curriculum.

A parent survey is expected to go out in March to determine if there is an interest in a language program, what that language of preference would be and where the priority for language lands among current STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) content areas.

“It’s more than time for Del Mar schools to offer second language instruction so I’m very enthusiastic about this,” said DMUSD President Erica Halpern at the board’s Feb. 27 meeting. “I’m happy to see that we’re working toward what kind of program would be the right one for our kids and our district.”

Shelley Petersen, assistant superintendent of instruction, said the goal would be to select a pilot site that would begin offering a language program in the 2019-20 school year. A steering committee would also be formed to develop ideas on the direction of a district-wide language program.

Spanish used to be a part of the district’s Extended Studies Curriculum (ESC) but the board removed it in 2009. ESC was re-branded to STEAM + in 2015, including the specialty programs that are partially funded by donations to the Del Mar Schools Education Foundation. Currently, DMUSD has fee-based Spanish and Mandarin programs that are offered after school.

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