Framingham Schools Expand Dual Language Programs

The Framingham school district plans to expand two dual language programs next school year. The programs will include a Portuguese program at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School and a Spanish program at Brophy Elementary School.

The district already has a two-way Spanish program at Barbieri Elementary School and a newly implemented two-way Portuguese program at Potter Road Elementary School. Under the expansion, native speakers of Spanish or Portuguese and English-speaking students will be taught standards-based grade-level curriculum in either Spanish or Portuguese.

Bilingual education department director Genoveffa Grieci says the expansion is part of a long term goal for the district. "Every year we hope to add another grade level to each school until we reach K-5 bilingual education," she said. Grieci added that she hopes to have English speakers join the program so that all students can share their knowledge. The program is open to integration between dual and monolingual students, at the parent's discretion.

According to the district's latest demographic study, 45 percent of the bilingual/ESL/SEI students speak Portuguese and 40 percent speak Spanish. Two-way immersion programs are considered additive bilingual programs because all students develop and maintain their home language while adding a second language to their repertoire. They receive the same core curriculum as all students in the state, and instruction is given in two languages throughout the program.

The district recommends two-way programs begin in the early grades and continue through secondary grades to be most effective. With Kindergarten registration for the 2019-2020 school year approaching, the expansion is even more relevant.

Two information sessions will be hosted for parents in both schools to get a better understanding of what the new programs entail. Both sessions will be held in the Costin Room at the Framingham Public Library at 6 p.m. on Dec. 5 and 12.

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