The planned downsizing of the Korean Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program at Monte Vista Elementary School in La Crescenta, which has a large Korean American student population, has sparked strong backlash. Around 400 parents have signed a petition and plan to raise concerns at a May 5 public hearing.
Monte Vista Elementary, led by Principal Houri Babayan, announced on April 29 that starting next school year, the Korean DLI program will operate with just one class each for 4th and 5th grades, plus one combined 4th-5th grade class.
Concerns Over Mixed-Grade Class Structure
The key issue is the downsizing and the introduction of a mixed-grade class, referred to as a “combo” class, where students from two grades share the same classroom. Parents say that until now, there were two DLI classes per grade. Parent Ji-Hye Lee said, “The school suddenly decided to reduce the size by creating a ‘combo class.’ This will increase class sizes to about 30 students, and since one teacher has to handle two different grades at once, proper education becomes impossible.”
Parents are worried that shrinking the DLI program will lower the quality of education. Around 400 parents have already signed a petition and submitted it to the Glendale Unified School District, asking for a detailed explanation.
School Cites Enrollment and Budget
The school stated the move was made based on enrollment and budget considerations but has not provided further details.
With growing parent opposition, the school scheduled a public hearing for May 5 at 6 p.m. in the school auditorium to discuss the DLI program changes.
Key Questions for the Public Hearing
At the hearing, parents plan to question the school on several issues, including:
- Why the decision was made without sufficient consultation with parents
- Whether the combo class model might be expanded to other grades
- How individualized dual language education can be maintained in a mixed-grade setting
Program Background and Broader Concerns
Monte Vista Elementary has run the Korean DLI program since 2010. The combo class model, which mixes students of different grade levels, has long been controversial in the education field due to challenges in addressing varied learning levels and comprehension, making it difficult for teachers to provide effective instruction.
BY YEOL JANG [jang.yeol@koreadaily.com]
