School awarded for language immersion program

(AP) — Parkview Elementary School kindergartners are getting a lesson in Spanish thanks to legislation that created a Dual Language Immersion pilot program grant.

Parkview received $82,817, which covers planning, instructional materials -- chosen by the school -- staff development training and to hire an additional faculty member, if needed, to run the program or to take over duties of a current teacher instructing the language class.

"Programs like this are exceptionally beneficial to students as they provide students with the opportunity to acquire language skills at a young age," said Indiana Department of Education spokeswoman Samantha Hart.

In a two-way immersion program like what Valparaiso is working toward, both native English-speaking children and English learner students benefit from having instruction in their home language as well as another that will lead them toward multilingual proficiency as young adults.

There is a shortage of foreign language teachers in the state — a topic Superintendent E. Ric Frataccia brought up at a School Board meeting in the fall.

Hart said to address the teacher shortage, state schools Superintendent Glenda Ritz created a Blue Ribbon Commission made up of educators and other education stakeholders, to develop strategies to recruit and retain educators in classrooms.