Milford Schools Discuss Adding New Pathway, World Language Change

MILFORD, CT — The Milford Board of Education is considering adding a new pathway called Civic and Global Engagement Pathway and there is also discussion about adding world language in sixth-grade. Currently, world language is offered in seventh-grade in Milford.

According to Board of Education meeting minutes the board discussed the following:

CIVIC AND GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT PATHWAY

Mr. Burt introduced Mr. Scott, Supervisor of Social Studies and World Languages. Mr. Scott narrated a
PowerPoint (on file) that gave a background on a new pathway in which the school district wishes to pursue.
The pathway, Civic and Global Engagement pathway, will place a strong emphasis on students’ competency
in global learning. The state has provided the opportunity for students to earn a Global Engagement
Certificate. The Global Engagement Certificate endeavor has specific criteria and will be issued directly
from the state, and is offered at no cost to districts. He reminded the Board that the desire to pursue civics
emerged from the Community Conversation held last August.

Mr. Scott, with the assistance of world language department leaders, also shared a recent visit made to the
Glastonbury school district to see its world language program in action. The program has been in place
beginning in the elementary school level for 60 years. The visit highlighted the many benefits of early
language learning. Ms. Glennon asked if there were studies that showed exposure to a foreign language in
the early years led to increased student achievement. Mr. Scott indicated he has studies that do and agreed to
send some to the Board. Currently, Milford offers a world language class for students in seventh grade. The
district is exploring the opportunity to offer it to students entering 6th grade as early as the 2018-19 school
year.