Our vision charges us to continually ask how our teaching and learning might increasingly connect our students to and for the world.  A task force of community and district partners are considering how we might use the opportunity that comes with opening new schools to further the teaching and learning of world language and dual language development in our schools.  The task force includes parents, community, principals, teachers, a Board liaison, and other district staff.  The work of the task force is grounded in the board goal "To successfully open two new primary schools to include quality programming for world language development and associated boundary adjustments."  The task force is charged with advising staff as they prepare recommendations to present in early spring.

On Tuesday, Oct. 18, the Language Program Task Force met for an initial orientation to the work. During this orientation the task force began the processes of:

• Building a shared understanding of the research in bilingualism, bi-literacy, and multiculturalism.
• Examining the benefits and costs of offering world and/or dual language programs in West Linn-Wilsonville.
• Building a shared understanding of effective program design and implementation in regards to language development programs.

The evening focused on establishing the task force as a learning community coming together to explore, learn, and discuss world language and dual language programming. We look forward to the learning that accompanies the work of this team and to the opportunities we will have to communicate and engage with our school community throughout the process.