Gov. Mead Applauds Paradise Valley DLI Program

Gov. Matt Mead likes what he sees from the Natrona County School District’s first dual-language immersion classroom.

Mead met with teachers and students from Paradise Valley Elementary School on Thursday to see how the program works.

Mead said he’d like to see some version of the program implemented in school districts throughout the state.

“I took one of the young students aside and asked him to count to 20 for me in Mandarin Chinese, and he did it without a hitch,” Mead said. “I am excited about what I see here in Natrona County and I’m more excited about how we can expand it statewide.”

The program utilizes two class sections of 22 kindergarten students. Participating kindergartners spend half of their school day learning math, science and social studies in Mandarin Chinese. They learn language arts in English.

Trustees approved the pilot program in April, which will cost the district $20,000 in its first year. Board member Dave Applegate said full-scale implementation would cost $100,000.

Trustees will review the program after its first nine weeks.