Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
At Obras, we have worked hard to create a community where all stakeholders have a voice. Teachers made significant changes to our curriculum when they advocated for reading workshop. Parents helped shape the level of communication around student growth and assessments. Students recognized that they didn’t have a library and proceeded to raise more than thirty thousand dollars to purchase books. Literally hundreds of people in the Obras community have contributed to our school because they were given a platform to participate.
In the past, our region has valued this active participation. When KIPP Austin focused on math and writing curriculum, teachers were able to interact with materials months before a curriculum was chosen. They were allowed an opportunity to give feedback and feel a sense of ownership. With that transparent process—a process that led to high teacher investment—we were able to help our schools become more successful. With the proposed changes to the language model, however, the region's approach has been dramatically different. Instead of giving the model more attention and resources, and instead of promoting transparency and a sense of ownership, the administration has chosen to abruptly shift away from the model entirely.
We understand that our schools have not produced the desired student results. However, we feel that we have not had enough money, training, resources, and time to achieve the growth the district is demanding. The majority of our teachers have received zero hours of regional professional development devoted to the dual language model.
We have grave concerns that the region's speed in making this large decision—without thinking through the consequences of staffing and culture—will have long-lasting effects on a school and district that is doing so many things right.
In a world that is increasingly divided, bilingualism can help build a bridge between opposing factions. We stand by our language model, and firmly believe that it can produce students who are community leaders and college-ready.
We urge KIPP Austin to give our schools more resources and time to prove that the dual language model works.
More like this
Keep KIPP Bilingual / Mantenga KIPP Bilingüe
Spanish for Everyone at Park Elementary
Updates
October 31, 2017
The response to this petition has demonstrated a clear commitment to the future of our school community. This momentum confirms that people value the opportunity to provide meaningful input on the educational model.
12 Comments
En mi opinión, el ser bilingüe puede abrirnos muchas puertas y siento que beneficia a muchos niños a desarrollarse mejor.
This language model, if given the proper amount of time and resources, could be essential in creating bilingual students. Students develop a sense of caring and respect for different cultures outside of their own. This dual language model gives students a chance to respect it and be a part of it by communicating in another language as well. In a world that is ever increasing in cross cultural communication and interaction through the internet, colleges and business are searching for bilingual candidates. This model is preparing students for their futures.
We have a growing success without the same resources as other schools. It is not because we can't. It is because we have to start lower and aim higher than most.
Robbing students of their native language and culture under the guise of academic “equity” is cold-hearted, short-sighted, and contradictory to the mission of KIPP Austin. Sad to see this is happening and that the district is shirking its responsibilities as an organization of social justice and balking under the pressures of English dominance and monolingualism.
The two way dual language model must be given a fair chance. Es importante que todos nuestros niños tendrán la oportunidad a aprender como leer y escribir las dos idiomas en este mensaje.
I believe our dual-language model is monumentally important to our students and our families. I am sad at the positivity of not having that be the reality of KIPP Comunidad as well as other schools in our region.
Keep Obras Bilingual
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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
At Obras, we have worked hard to create a community where all stakeholders have a voice. Teachers made significant changes to our curriculum when they advocated for reading workshop. Parents helped shape the level of communication around student growth and assessments. Students recognized that they didn’t have a library and proceeded to raise more than thirty thousand dollars to purchase books. Literally hundreds of people in the Obras community have contributed to our school because they were given a platform to participate.
In the past, our region has valued this active participation. When KIPP Austin focused on math and writing curriculum, teachers were able to interact with materials months before a curriculum was chosen. They were allowed an opportunity to give feedback and feel a sense of ownership. With that transparent process—a process that led to high teacher investment—we were able to help our schools become more successful. With the proposed changes to the language model, however, the region's approach has been dramatically different. Instead of giving the model more attention and resources, and instead of promoting transparency and a sense of ownership, the administration has chosen to abruptly shift away from the model entirely.
We understand that our schools have not produced the desired student results. However, we feel that we have not had enough money, training, resources, and time to achieve the growth the district is demanding. The majority of our teachers have received zero hours of regional professional development devoted to the dual language model.
We have grave concerns that the region's speed in making this large decision—without thinking through the consequences of staffing and culture—will have long-lasting effects on a school and district that is doing so many things right.
In a world that is increasingly divided, bilingualism can help build a bridge between opposing factions. We stand by our language model, and firmly believe that it can produce students who are community leaders and college-ready.
We urge KIPP Austin to give our schools more resources and time to prove that the dual language model works.
Updates
October 31, 2017
The response to this petition has demonstrated a clear commitment to the future of our school community. This momentum confirms that people value the opportunity to provide meaningful input on the educational model.
12 Comments
My families value the language model and dozens of parents have said they will leave the KIPP family if this takes place. This truly breaks my heart...this modle was a huge why behind me choosing to work for KAPS.
En mi opinión, el ser bilingüe puede abrirnos muchas puertas y siento que beneficia a muchos niños a desarrollarse mejor.
This language model, if given the proper amount of time and resources, could be essential in creating bilingual students. Students develop a sense of caring and respect for different cultures outside of their own. This dual language model gives students a chance to respect it and be a part of it by communicating in another language as well. In a world that is ever increasing in cross cultural communication and interaction through the internet, colleges and business are searching for bilingual candidates. This model is preparing students for their futures.
We have a growing success without the same resources as other schools. It is not because we can't. It is because we have to start lower and aim higher than most.
Robbing students of their native language and culture under the guise of academic “equity” is cold-hearted, short-sighted, and contradictory to the mission of KIPP Austin. Sad to see this is happening and that the district is shirking its responsibilities as an organization of social justice and balking under the pressures of English dominance and monolingualism.
The two way dual language model must be given a fair chance. Es importante que todos nuestros niños tendrán la oportunidad a aprender como leer y escribir las dos idiomas en este mensaje.
I believe our dual-language model is monumentally important to our students and our families. I am sad at the positivity of not having that be the reality of KIPP Comunidad as well as other schools in our region.
Keep Obras Bilingual
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My families value the language model and dozens of parents have said they will leave the KIPP family if this takes place. This truly breaks my heart...this modle was a huge why behind me choosing to work for KAPS.