CPF Hamilton Wentworth Response to Review Recommendations
(January 2002)

"Canadian Parents for French - Hamilton Wentworth would like to thank the Board for the chance to provide input to the French Immersion Review Recommendations. One of this organization's primary goals is to "work for the betterment, continuation and expansion of French as a Second Language Programs in Hamilton Wentworth". The Hamilton Wentworth District School Board's review of French Immersion has provided an excellent opportunity to strengthen and renew this important Program. Studies have shown that French Immersion gives children the ability to understand and function well in both of Canada's official languages.

Canadian Parents for French (CPF) - Hamilton Wentworth is especially pleased to see the following Recommendations have been made as the result of the FI Review process:
· increasing the number of subjects offered in French at the secondary school level;
· providing certificates and recognition to students who complete the FI Program to Grade 8;
· increasing the opportunities for French cultural enrichment (trips & activities);
· providing information to support parents of FI students at all Grade levels;
· offering formal FI information evenings for JK parents; and
· marketing FI to transitional students entering middle and secondary school.

In addition to the changes listed above, CPF-Hamilton Wentworth feels that the following issues should also be addressed by the Review so as to enable the Board to boost and maintain pupil enrollment and assure a long-term future for French Immersion in Hamilton.

a) Resources & Support
The Resources and Support Recommendation #1 states that the Board should "increase the level of funding and support available for French Immersion schools utilizing funding available in the Ministry Language Grant". CPF-Hamilton Wentworth completely agrees with this Recommendation and suggests that the following Strategy be included in the Review to ensure its implementation:

"All French Immersion Language Grants allocated by the Ministry of Education will be distributed to French Immersion Schools."

b) Canadian Parents for French
We suggest that Canadian Parents for French be added as a resource organization to the FI Review Strategy dealing with joint programming and cultural enrichment (Program Consistency and Standards Section). One of the goals of our organization is to "promote French language learning opportunities for students, teachers and parents/guardians".

We also suggest that CPF be mentioned in the Resources and Support Strategy that discusses the creation of a Network for communication and collaboration among parents. CPF Hamilton Wentworth's goals are also to "increase parent/guardian understanding of French as a Second Language programs" as well as "increase parent/guardian involvement in the education system at all levels". We would be happy to partner with the School Board to achieve these goals.

c) School Closures
While CPF-Hamilton Wentworth recognizes that low enrollment levels in some French Immersion schools have made it very difficult to provide viable programming in these schools, our concern is that the closure of several FI programs at once will lead to further City-wide declines in enrollment. Many of the schools being considered for closure or consolidation are located in the eastern part of the City. CPF-Hamilton Wentworth recommends that the following Strategy be included in the Review:

"That the closure and consolidation of any French Immersion Schools be conducted in a staged fashion so as to allow Board staff to assess the impact on FI enrollment of the increased resources, funding and transportation options provided as a result of the 2001 French Immersion Review. And that further, the removal of a French Immersion Program from any school should be reviewed by the School Board in conjunction with community input."

d) Transportation
The provision of transportation is critical to increasing pupil enrollment and ensuring the success of a French Immersion Program. Many Hamilton Wentworth parents are unable to access French Immersion schools for their children. In June 2001, CPF Ontario completed its study of "Transportation to French Immersion and Extended French Programs in Ontario School Boards". This study found that of the 55 School Boards with French Immersion or Extended French Programs, Hamilton Wentworth is one of only three Boards that does not provide any form of bussing. The study concluded that adequate transportation has a great impact on both the accessibility and sustainability of programs in French Immersion.

When some children are left out of French Immersion programs because there is inadequate Board transportation, there is a concern that the Program will become elitist. Parents who do not own a second car (or a first car) will find it very difficult to get their children to a French Immersion School and therefore to provide their children with the same opportunities afforded more affluent parents. This concern will grow if the Board elects to withdraw the FI program from several schools located in the eastern part of Hamilton.

The Province of Ontario provides a grant of $295.00 per pupil enrolled in French Immersion. If bussing is introduced by the School Board, the number of French Immersion pupils will increase and the Ministry Language Grant will increase accordingly. This is a win-win situation for pupils in Hamilton Wentworth District School Board.

The Recommendations of the FI Review propose that centralized pick-up points be introduced to serve students attending FI schools. While CPF Hamilton Wentworth applauds this suggestion as a useful first step, we feel that FI Students should be eligible for the same transportation service as pupils who attend core English programs. The Board could consider staggered start times and sharing buses with the Hamilton Wentworth Separate School Board to achieve this objective. CPF Hamilton Wentworth suggests that the following strategy be included in the Review Recommendations:

"That French Immersion elementary school students residing within developed urban areas as defined by the Official Plan prepared by each local municipality, will be eligible for transportation services when the walking distance exceeds 1.6 kilometres."

e) Board Staffing
CPF-Hamilton Wentworth notes that a great number of the strategies proposed by the FI Review are either ongoing or new responsibilities of the Board's FSL Consultant. In light of the critical role played by this position in promoting and supporting French Immersion, we ask that the following strategy be included:

"That the 'French as a Second Language Consultant' staff position be maintained and augmented by the School Board as an essential means of supporting parents, students and teachers in the French Immersion Program."

Thank you again for the opportunity to provide our comments and suggestions for the 2001 French Immersion Review. It is our hope that the implementation of these strategies will result in a French Immersion Program in Hamilton Wentworth that will become as strong and viable as we all dream it can be."