Public and Community Schools' (Mis)Connections: What Do K–12 Educators Know About Heritage Language Schools?

• In Event: 35.054 - Commmunity–School Partnerships in the Era of Educational Reform: Current Practices and Future Directions

Abstract

In many public schools children-speakers of less-common languages struggle academically and socially, as they receive no support for growth in the heritage language and educators have difficulty connecting with immigrant parents. However some immigrant families and communities effectively support academic development of the children in their heritage languages at home and in community schools. What do K-12 educators know about these efforts? We surveyed K-12 educators about their knowledge and perceptions of the heritage language community schools. Our findings demonstrate that educators have little understanding of how immigrant communities support bilingualism, and districts have not explored venues for partnerships between public schools and existing community schools to support academic development of the multi-lingual children. Implications for practice are discussed.

Author

• Elena Lyutykh, Concordia University - Chicago