| Even with all of the recent cutbacks in funding for | | | | Furthermore, the nation as a whole benefits from |
| foreign language programs, parents can still work | | | | developing kids who have a global understanding |
| to support early language education in their | | | | and can communicate with people from other |
| schools. | | | | countries and cultures. |
| Many parents and teachers are concerned about | | | | You can learn more by visiting the website of the |
| cutbacks in funding for foreign language programs | | | | National Network for Early Language Learning ( |
| at the elementary school level. | | | | If you are concerned that language programs in |
| Is there anything a parent can do to support | | | | your school are being cut or are substandard, find |
| early childhood language education in their | | | | out if your school is meeting state standards. You |
| communities? | | | | can find out more about your state's world |
| Yes! I recently attended a presentation given by | | | | languages standards by going to the Department |
| Janis Jensen, the NJ Coordinator of World | | | | of Education website for your state. |
| Languages and the President of the National | | | | 3. Consider alternatives. You may want your |
| Network for Early Language Learning. During her | | | | school to offer a great Spanish program, but |
| talk, she made these suggestions for parents and | | | | keep in mind that the specific language offered is |
| teachers who are being faced with potential | | | | less important than the opportunity for the child |
| cutbacks in their school's foreign language | | | | to learn ANY foreign language. |
| programs. | | | | Note that the Bush administration recently |
| 1. Be an advocate. Many of the teachers at the | | | | announced a National Security Language Initiative |
| presentation agreed that active and vocal parents | | | | to increase the number of Americans who can |
| can play a very influential role (sometimes more | | | | speak what they deem to be “critical” |
| than teachers) in convincing school boards to | | | | languages (e.g. Chinese, Korean, Hindi, Arabic). |
| support funding for early language learning. | | | | Recognizing the need to start teaching these |
| Consider organizing concerned parents, and | | | | languages in the Pre-K and elementary level, the |
| presenting a compelling case to the school board | | | | government is offering funding for schools to |
| for maintaining adequate funding for early | | | | offer programs in these critical languages. If |
| language learning. Sending articles to the local | | | | funding constraints are keeping your school from |
| newspaper about the benefits of early language | | | | offering a quality program, suggest they develop |
| learning also can help generate support for funding | | | | a program in one of these critical languages, |
| language programs. | | | | utilizing the federal government's new grants. One |
| 2. Stay informed. To make a case to | | | | such grant is through the Department of |
| administrators, you must clearly state the | | | | Education's Foreign Language Assistance Program |
| benefits of early foreign language education. | | | | (FLAP) and provides incentives for teaching critical |
| Research has shown cognitive, academic, and | | | | need languages in K-12. $24M has been |
| social benefits to early language learning. | | | | earmarked for these grants. |