The only Mandarin immersion program in Kansas may close – partly because teachers are so hard to find

Located in a suburb of Kansas City, the Blue Valley Schools’ inaugural language immersion program began in the 2017-18 school year at Wolf Springs Elementary. A second Chinese Immersion site, Valley Park Elementary, welcomed its inaugural class during the 2018-19 school year. The district has said there was strong community interest in Chinese, it’s a critical language and offers students a global focus.

Blue Valley parents concerned for Chinese immersion program
by: Kevin Barry

From Fox 4

Feb. 1, 2023

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Parents in the Blue Valley School District Chinese immersion program are looking for answers after hearing the program their students are in is getting evaluated.

On January 19, the district sent families a letter saying that the Chinese immersion program would be evaluated based on:

• Ability to provide Mandarin instruction in a sustainable way
• Ability to attract, retain and support high-quality Chinese Immersion program teachers, both Chinese and English-speaking teachers within the program
• Ability to sustain a pathway for current immersion students to achieve success on the AP Chinese Language test in high school

Please see more here.