Cupertino Language Immersion Program

Cupertino Language Immersion Program (CLIP) is an alternative K-8 education program located at R.I. Meyerholz Elementary (K-5) and Joaquin Miller Middle School (6-8) in the Cupertino Union School District (CUSD). CLIP is the oldest public Mandarin Immersion program in California and the second oldest in the country.[1][2]

Employing a two-way language immersion model, CLIP’s goals are to develop biliteracy, enrich culturally and achieve academic proficiency that meet or exceed the district guidelines. It is one of four alternative programs in the district where enrollment is decided by lottery.

Starting in the 1998-1999 school year with a single Kindergarten class, CLIP’s Mandarin Immersion Program has grown to expand through eighth grade in 2006. In 2007, the first class of immersion students graduated middle school.[3] Starting in fall 2010, the middle school portion moved from Sam H. Lawson Middle School to Joaquin Miller Middle School.

CUSD supports CLIP with teachers, facilities, and English curriculum. All aspects of the Mandarin curriculum are financed by grants and donations. Donations are routed through the CLIP Community Organization (CLIPCO), a non-profit fundraising organization.

Milestones

Organizational Structure[8]

Academics

Curriculum

Delivered in both Mandarin and English, CLIP students receive the same curriculum as all CUSD students. The program integrates both native English speakers and native Chinese speakers to achieve a language balance for 2-way language immersion.
Instructional time during the day is split between English and Chinese as follows: kindergarten and first grade students receive 70% Mandarin/30% English instruction; second and third grade students receive 60%/40% Mandarin/English instruction; fourth and fifth grade students receive 50%/50% Mandarin/English instruction. Middle school students take two periods each day in Mandarin and five periods in English.[9]

CLIP students are a part of their host school's student body and participate in school-wide activities and events.[10] Middle School CLIP students at Lawson Middle School are required to attend 2 school periods in Mandarin. To fulfill this requirement, students must attend an early morning "0 period" and surrender an elective period.

Teachers

CLIP teachers consists of English teachers, with Multiple Subject Credential with emphasis on Cross-cultural, Language and Academic Development (CLAD) credentials and Mandarin and bilingual teachers with Multiple Subject credential with Bilingual, Cross-cultural, Language and Academic Development (BCLAD) certification in addition to the California required subject certification.[11] Teachers visit other bilingual schools in the Bay Area. CLIP has also provided additional professional development and training by Dr. Ji-Mei Chang, professor at San Jose State University and consultant to CLIP.

Assessment

Cultural Enrichment

Opposition

Opponents of CLIP have voiced the following concerns:

External links

References

  1. "Full Mandarin Immersion School List"
  2. "Brief History of CLIP"
  3. 1 2 "Two Milestones for Mandarin Immersion Class", by Mangaliman, J. and Noguchi, S., San Jose Mercury News, June 7, 2007
  4. 1 2 3 "CUSD board hears immersion presentation", by Enders, Steve, Cupertino Courier, May 20, 1998
  5. "Board OKs Mandarin program", by Enders, Steve, Cupertino Courier, May 20, 1998
  6. 1 2 "Language Immersion Program Trains Students for the Future", by Che, I-chun, Cupertino Courier, October 9, 2002
  7. 2003 FLAP Grantees
  8. CLIP Organizational Plan
  9. Instructional Model and Language Percentage, 2003. Cupertino Language Immersion Program
  10. Program Definition - An Overview, 2003. Cupertino Language Immersion Program
  11. Your Child's Teacher, 2003. Cupertino Language Immersion Program
  12. Chinese Courses, 2009. Fremont Union High School District
  13. Decker, J. Letter. Cupertino Courier, April 8, 1998: "Letters: Immersion Proposal is ethnically biased"
  14. Becker, R.A. Letter. Cupertino Courier, June 3, 1998: "Letters: Immersion or coercion"
  15. "Financial and Enrollment Practices of the Cupertino Union School District". Smith, Michael A., Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury, November 4, 2004
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