This document provides an overview of a school district's Chinese language pilot program. The district has 7,000 students across one high school, three middle schools, and seven elementary schools. It launched a Chinese language pilot program in two elementary schools to make Chinese available to all second graders and supplement their academic learning. The program was implemented through partnerships with Ohio State University and other organizations. It faced challenges like finding time and resources but overcame obstacles by starting with a voluntary after-school program and then moving to a full inclusion model with Chinese taught during the school day using different schedules and models at the two pilot schools.
2. DISTRICT OVERVIEW
Suburban Public School District near Columbus,
Ohio
7, 000 students
One High School, 9-12
Three Middle Schools, 6-8
Seven Elementary , K-5
27 % Free and Reduced
80 % of Gahanna-Jefferson graduates go on to post-
secondary education.
5. BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS
The Ohio State University Chinese Flagship
Program
Ohio Department of Education
(Chinese K-2 Sesame Street Pilot Program)
Asia Society and Hanban (Confucius Classroom
Network)
6. WHY ELEMENTARY?
Starting with a FLES after school program
Voluntary—not inclusive
Two hours per week (research suggested 120
minutes/week)
Focus on speaking and listening
7. OVERCOMING OBSTACLES
How do we find time during the school day for
Chinese?
No sufficient resource (staffing & money) for full-
time elementary Chinese teacher.
8. DISTRICT GOAL
Full inclusion (available to all 2nd graders) Chinese
language and culture
Supplement grade level academics
9. HOW DO WE SELL THE PROGRAM
Administrators
Teachers
Parents
The Students
12. EARLY DECISIONS
High Point Elementary Goshen Lane Elementary
Go by Special schedule Go by Reading Group
(Art/Music/Chinese) schedule
25 minute per session 30 minute per session
3 days a week 2 days a week
Contain Classroom Rotate groups
Instructor go to 4 classes a Instructor has her own
day classroom