Milwaukee's language immersion programs face cuts

Erin Richards:

When Delara Chaoui travels with her family to Morocco or France, her third-grade son serves as the group translator, switching easily between English and French.

It's a skill he's developed at Milwaukee French Immersion School, one of a handful of language immersion programs in the city that are a magnet for many middle-class parents who value bilingualism, a world-focused curriculum and a diverse student body.

But a growing sense of concern about how another heavy round of budget cuts could affect the quality of the schools has moved Chaoui and other immersion parents to action in recent weeks, seeking greater public attention for programs they fear are threatened.

The most assertive are becoming a squeaky wheel in the Milwaukee Public Schools administration's wagon because they want recognition - an acknowledgment that their schools, children and they, as parent advocates, are assets to the district and that specialty programs need funding to stay vibrant and keep parents in the district.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at February 14, 2012 2:18 AM
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