On November 16th, 2016 DC Immersion testified on the Every Student Succeeds Act or #ESSA in front of the DC State Board of Education. Our testimony made the argument that the level of proficiency in the partner language should count, together with other standard assessments and indicators, in assessing school performance.
Here is our testimony on The Power of Partner Language Proficiency.
We were glad to learn that we are not alone in thinking along these lines. Massachusetts just proposed that, in addition to foreign language acquisition rates, the mere availability of a dual language program be used as an indicator of school performance! Working with many dual language teachers and administrators, we know how much work goes into the mere availability of a dual language program and wholeheartedly agree with Massachusetts’ proposal.