April 2013

Purpose of the SurveyProvide opportunity for all Herndon Elementary

constituents to give feedback on the proposed transition from French Partial Immersion to Spanish Two-Way Immersion.

Gather specific information about potential impacts (positive and negative) of changing the current language program.

Provide quantitative and qualitative data to the school administration to inform final decision.

Respondents

294 Total RespondentsResponses collected via survey: March 14 – 27, 2013

Respondents Report on Interest in Child Learning a 2nd Language

Are you interested in your child learning a second language?

N = 289

Not At All Maybe Somewhat Very Much

2.4% 6.2% 5.9% 85.5%

Respondents Report on Current Participation in the French Program

Does your child currently participate in the French Partial Immersion Program?

N = 283

Respondents Report Interest in Participation in the French Program

If your child currently is not in the French Partial Immersion Program, are you

interested in your child participating?N = 159*

Not At All Maybe Somewhat Very Much

24.5% 15.7% 9.4% 50.3%

*Represents only qualified responses (i.e., those answering “No” to the prior question)

Respondents Report Age of Child

If you answered “Somewhat” or “Very Much,” what age is your child?

N = 79*

Preschool Kindergarten

49.4% 50.6%

*Represents only qualified responses (i.e., those answering “Somewhat” or “Very Much” to the prior question)

Respondents Report Previous Participation in the French Program

Has your child previously participated in the French Partial Immersion Program at Herndon ES?

N = 246

Respondents Report Reason for Leaving French Partial Immersion Program

If your child no longer participates in the French Partial Immersion Program, please indicate the reason(s) why

he or she left the program.N = 60

Too much pressure to

learn a second

language

Second language not

needed

Interferes with learning

English

Not enough time to study other school

subjects

Too early in schooling

process to start a second language

Other

15.0% 1.7% 5.0% 5.0% 13.3% *60.0%

* 36.7% NA; 11.7% Program not well suited for student; 8.3% Child no longer attends school; and 3.3% Issue with the program organization

Respondents Report Interest in Participation in the Spanish Program

Are you interested in your child participating in the Spanish Two-Way Immersion Program?

N = 252

Not At All Maybe Somewhat Very Much

36.1% 15.1% 8.3% 40.5%

Respondents Report Age of Child if Interested in Spanish Program

If you answered “Somewhat” or “Very Much,” what age is your child?

N = 93*

Preschool Kindergarten

60.2% 39.8%

*Represents only qualified responses (i.e., those answering “Somewhat” or “Very Much” to the prior question)

Respondents Report How They Became Aware of the Proposal

How did you become aware of the proposal to phase out the French Partial Immersion Program and phase in the

Spanish Two-Way Immersion Program?N = 264

PTA Meetings

School Admin.

Teachers Other Staff

From Parents

Thursday Packet

From Letters Home

Community Meetings

Other

50 60 20 18 90 119 87 51 66

Respondents were able to select multiple responses to this question. The numbers represent the number of respondents selecting each response.

12 Major Themes from the Feedback81 supported the proposal.49 supported the current French program.33 did not support the proposal.31 suggested having both languages.24 said teaching Spanish is a way to serve the greater

community.22 displeased with the proposal process.20 felt Spanish is a more useful language.16 concerned about having siblings in different language

programs.12 concerned about the resources for the language program.11 expressed that the decision is being made too soon.10 felt demographics should not be a factor in the decision

making.10 wanted more information about the details of the proposal.

Additional AnalysisFurther analysis revealed that support for the proposed Spanish Two-Way Immersion program was impacted by whether the respondent has a child in the French Partial Immersion program:

Those who had students in the program were less likely to support the new proposal than those whose students did not participate.