Out-of-Zone Assignment Requests
A request for a transfer to an out-of-zone school will be considered on a yearly basis only if there are seats unfilled by students within the zone
English Language Learners
Students whose primary language is not English and who have been identified as eligible for sheltered English immersion classrooms will be assigned to a school that provides these services.
Two-Way Language Program
The two-way language program is based upon a model of dual immersion programs that exist nationwide in various different languages. The design of the program is also based upon current research about how children best learn languages. Achievement results of students in such programs also indicate a much higher level of academic performance. A two-way language program includes a group of English speaking and also Spanish speaking students, preferably in equal numbers.
If parents are interested in the program for their child, both Spanish and English speaking parents will be asked to sign a letter of commitment stating that they commit to keep their child in the program up through fifth grade.After committing initially to the program, a lottery will be held in a public forum.Acceptance to this program will be contingent upon the screening and interview process.Parents will receive a letter by mail informing them of their child’s status.
UNIDOS One Way Language Immersion Program - George School
The One-Way Immersion English-Portuguese program is a dual language program structured as a collaborative learning community fostering the growth of English and Portuguese with a vision of bringing students and families from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds together to become bilingual, bi-literate and multicultural. The UNIDOS program is beginning its second year with our first Kindergarten class preparing to transition into grade 1 for September of 2017. A year-long collaboration with state agencies, district, schools and city, and the dual language steering committee lay the foundation for this next generation of dual language programming in Brockton. Using the experiences of the Two-Way program, careful examination of other DL programs around the country and studying the models of successful Portuguese-English dual language programs in Massachusetts and around the country, UNIDOS was launched. The support for UNIDOS and the one way immersion dual language programming is widespread beginning with the local community, Portuguese and Brazilian officials, consulates and the larger language learning community which distributed information and received press coverage in the U.S and abroad.
Based on national research and recommendations, the program follows a 50%-50% model whereby students spend half of their schedule/time with the English teacher and half schedule/time with the Portuguese teacher. Kindergarten students follow, participate and engage academically with the age-appropriate standards, curriculum and developmental milestones for early childhood education in all subjects: reading, math, social studies, science etc. Additional grades will be added each year to the Portuguese language program to Grade 5 and the UNIDOS program has become part of larger dual language immersion network in Brockton.
Resources are available in both languages and teachers are fluent speakers in the languages of instruction. Academics, projects, cultural themes, activities, formal and informal testing are conducted in both languages and students take all district and state mandated assessments. The UNIDOS One Way Immersion program adheres to the national Guiding Principles for Dual Language programs, CCSS, WIDA, ACTFL standards.
Interested students/families request consideration for entry into the program through the Kindergarten registration process with a public lottery held in mid-May following the scheduled Kindergarten registration process. A lottery has been established due to the large number of interested Brockton residents. Class sizes conform to the district’s guidelines for kindergarten class sizes. A waitlist will be established after the lottery and is in effect for one year. A current Frequently-Asked- Question (FAQ) information page is available at Parent Center and the Bilingual-ESL Department with updated information, schedules and procedures.
Special Education Student Assignments
In accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the educational placement of a special education student is determined by the student's individual education planning team and cannot be unilaterally determined by the parents. Therefore, students who have been identified as requiring special education services will be assigned only to those schools containing the special education program required by their Individual Education Plan (IEP).
Integrated Kindergarten Classroom
The integrated and inclusion classroom models bring together children with special needs and typically developing children or role models. Early integration experiences are known to be beneficial to both the special needs child and the typically developing child. Both groups learn from one another and develop a better understanding of each other's strengths and needs. The program uses the same curriculum and materials as the regular kindergarten program. In each integrated kindergarten classroom there will be one special needs teacher and two full time paraprofessionals for a maximum of twenty children. Classes will have up to ten role models and up to ten children with special needs. Parents may apply for the integrated programs during the kindergarten registration process. Typically developing students are screened and selected by the Special Education Department from enrollment requests and by zone address. If you wish to receive more information, please contact Laurie Mason, Director of Special Education at (508) 580-7525.
