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| Burns Park Foreign Language Initiative |
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Total Donations: $175
Goal: $5,000
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The BPFLI Mission is to provide funding to support foreign language education at Burns Park Elementary School.
Research shows that the intended level of instruction not only allows for development of skills in the foreign language but also improves English language arts achievement.
OUR HISTORY
In the spring of 2005, we decided to investigate why foreign language is not part of our public school elementary education and what it would take to make that happen. We contacted the school, the district offices and talked with parents from other schools who also had interests in language programs. What we learned is that given the budget environment at present and in the near future, the Ann Arbor Public Schools District is not able to fund foreign language programs in the elementary schools. We also learned that our principal and her staff are very supportive of having foreign language instruction integrated into the daily curriculum for the children at our school.
To gauge community interest and support, we surveyed all Burns Park parents during the summer of 2005; we received overwhelmingly positive responses to the idea of having foreign language taught to every student, during the school day. By our estimates, about 210 families had children attending Burns Park at the time of the survey; 111 responded, with 94% supporting the idea.
The final green light came from the District in the fall of 2005; they agreed to allow language instruction to be integrated into the school day at Burns Park, if we provided 100% of the funding for an instructor. This was a significant step in the right direction. Instead of language being yet another after-school program for a few who could manage to fit it in their schedule or budget, all children at the school would learn together, during their regular school day.
Fundraising began December 2005, and by January 31, 2006 we had reached our first fundraising goal of $40,000 through contributions from families at the school and their friends, neighbors and relatives. An instructor was hired in March and Spanish instruction was added to the curriculum at Burns Park on March 23, 2006!
Of course, we need to raise this money EVERY YEAR to keep the program going - and we WILL, with your help!
Did you know...?
o ...that Burns Park Elementary has the 3rd largest Spanish-speaking student population (in an elementary school) in the district? This kind of program often benefits these children in many ways, leading to improved academic achievement in other areas.
o ...that many other elementary schools in our district have long-standing parent-funded enrichment?
o ...that this program was originally offered as a pilot for the district with the vision of Foreign Language Education during the school day becoming a reality for all Ann Arbor Elementary students?
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