-SCHOOL NEWS-
New programming coming to Montour in the fall is designed to give elementary students a solid grasp of Spanish by the time they reach middle school.
According to the district’s February newsletter, elementary students will first be exposed to the Spanish language in small informal doses at the kindergarten level. By grades one and two, students will receive regular instruction every second day and by third grade they will be practicing Spanish in the classroom every day.
The programming is designed to give students “a competitive advantage in the workforce and generally within the culture,” according to Dominick Salpeck, director of instruction and academic achievement.
“Currently, 13% of the U.S. population speaks Spanish at home and that number is expected to increase dramatically over the next decade.”