Dist. 203 to offer Spanish at two elementary sites

Naperville Unit District 203 will offer elementary school students a chance to be immersed in foreign language instruction at two sites in the fall.

Maplebrook and Beebe elementary schools each will house a Spanish-English program for kindergartners and first-graders.

Maplebrook's magnet program will be open to students from around the district while Beebe's will be for students in that school only.

Jodi Wirt, associate superintendent for instruction, said the district recognizes the growing need for students to be part of a global community.

"We're understanding the importance of understanding culture and being able to communicate in more than one language," she said. "We believe (the program) provides students in the district an opportunity at a very young age to gain that proficiency."

The district will hold a meeting for families who are interested in the Maplebrook magnet program from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Feb. 27 at the district administrative center, 203 W. Hillside Road.

In addition to district staff, consultant Sonia Soltero will be on hand to field questions.

There will be another meeting about the Beebe program in early March.

Students who enroll at either school will not simply be taking traditional one-period Spanish classes. Instead, they will be immersed in a dual-language program that allows them to learn subjects such as history and science in the new language.

The group would be a mix of native English and native Spanish speakers who spend about 80 percent of the day learning in Spanish and 20 percent in English.

The students would stay together over the years and the percentage of English spoken in class would increase until half the day is spent in each language.

Students would be using the same curriculum as their peers, just translated into Spanish. They would still take literacy in their native language.

Wirt wants parents to understand this is not an experimental program but has been in existence for years in other districts.

"It's not as though we don't have the research base to guide our implementation of the program," she said. "In the district we're starting from scratch but not inventing it. We're learning from what other people have done."

The district anticipates having about 28 students per section with one section per grade level. Registration for the Maplebrook magnet program will go through March.

If more students register than the program can accommodate, the district will hold a lottery among those students to randomly choose who participates. Those students would be notified in April.

While the notion of learning a new language at such a young age may sound daunting, Wirt said the program is open to everyone.

"It's not only for gifted students," she said. "This is a program that many students can be successful in."

The district originally considered starting a Spanish magnet program at up to three schools in the fall but finding long-term classroom space became a problem. However, once the district opens its new early childhood center, more classrooms could become available at the elementary schools.

In the fall of 2009, the district also plans to start a Chinese dual language magnet program at Ranch View Elementary School. In addition, it would like to offer traditional Spanish classes to all elementary students by the fall of 2010.

If You Go

What: Naperville Unit District 203 elementary foreign language orientation meeting

When: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Feb. 27

Where: District 203 administrative center, 203 W. Hillside Road

RSVP: (630) 983-2501