Public Board's French Immersion Review

Background:
The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board has recently completed a review of the French Immersion Program. The Review recommendations were approved in principle by the School Board on February 25, 2002.

Many positive changes have resulted from the French Immersion Review so far. Recognition of the Program among the Trustees and within the community has increased. The Board's new FI web site and excellent kindergarten information nights were products of the Review and enrolment for next year has increased at some schools because of this added attention.

New French teachers were hired in March rather than in June this year. Board staff will be working over the summer to implement more of the Review recommendations (for example: setting up a process for assisting students with academic problems in French Immersion, and establishing exit surveys for students who leave the Program).

CPF Hamilton Wentworth continues to participate in the Review process through written responses to Board staff addressing the draft recommendations (see below) and through presentations at the February and April Committee of the Whole meetings.

Major Review Recommendations:

• Increase the level of funding and support available to French Immersion schools.
• Increase information and support available for parents of French Immersion students and build communication networks between French Immersion schools.
• Actively recruit and maintain enthusiastic, satisfied and qualified teachers for the French Immersion Program.
• Actively promote and market the French Immersion Program, especially to entry level students and their parents.
• Develop strategies to maintain students in the French Immersion Program especially at critical transition points such as entry to middle school or high school.
• Support high academic achievement while enhancing French language cultural and recreational opportunities provided by the schools.
• Attempt to provide French Immersion in as many viable schools as possible, but consider several schools with insufficient enrollment for closure or consolidation.
• Consider the provision of French Immersion in newly built up and suburban areas of the City provided sufficient students can be drawn from a school's catchment area.
• Provide limited transportation service from home schools to French Immersion schools.
• Ensure consistency and standardization in Program offerings across the City.

Next Steps:

French Immersion Program changes which will require additional funding (issues such as transportation, resource allocation, and school consolidations) are to be considered by the School Board on an individual basis. CPF Hamilton Wentworth will continue to appear before the Board to advocate for the French Immersion Program.

CPF Hamilton Wentworth is pleased that the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board recognizes that the French Immersion Program will not continue to thrive under current conditions. This Review is a positive step toward maintaining student enrollment and high academic standards in the Public School Board.