District looks at foreign language expansion

The Laguna Beach Unified Board of Education heard a report on primary-level foreign language teaching options at its Tuesday meeting.

The district currently offers language courses in middle and high school; in kindergarten and first grade, an exposure program teaches kids basic words and concepts.

A committee was tasked with determining the best practices in the district for expanding the foreign language program to other primary grades.

A committee gave three options for the best fit in the district.

The first would expand the school day by one hour two days per week for grades four and five, with a district-taught program.

In the second model, a consultant would teach grades one through three during the school day, with a voluntary expanded day model for four and five; the system would cut into the lower grades’ school day.

In the third, a customized, integrated program for grades one through five would be fit into the normal school day, with a foreign language curriculum incorporated into other subject areas like social studies.

Board President El Hathaway suggested a variation of the third plan, with just grades three through five or four and five to be integrated, as kids in younger grades are focused on learning English.

Supt. Robert Fraisse expressed willingness to examine Hathaway’s idea further.

The Palo Alto school district conducted a similar evaluation of best practices, and came to the same conclusions as Laguna. The committee will come back at a June board meeting with additional research, at which time the board will begin discussing possible policy changes.

The board also heard an update on the high school’s literary magazine, which is back in production after a hiatus, and honored outstanding students.

CANDICE BAKER can be reached at (949) 494-5480 or at candice.baker@latimes.com.