| Several Orlando School administrators will be among | | | | more language education at younger grades. |
| the nearly four hundred curriculum developers and | | | | In surveys conducted in the Orlando Schools |
| administrators from around the nation to visit China in | | | | concerning Advanced Placement courses several high |
| an effort to create and expand educational programs | | | | schools expressed an interest in offering an AP |
| that teach Chinese language and culture in America. | | | | Chinese course for the 2006-2007 school year. The |
| The trip to China will last one week from June 27 | | | | problem was that many of these schools do not have |
| through July 5. The trip is in cooperation with Hanban, | | | | a teacher of Chinese nor do they see a way to fund |
| China's Office of Chinese Language Council | | | | such a program. But that may be changing thanks to |
| International, in partnership with the College Board, the | | | | new programs that unite the governments and |
| Chinese Language Association of | | | | educators of China and the US. In April 2006, the |
| Secondary-Elementary Schools (CLASS), and the | | | | College Board and Hanban announced the formation |
| National Council of State Supervisors for Languages | | | | of a partnership to build and expand Chinese language |
| (NCSSFL). | | | | programs in U.S. schools. |
| The visit will focus on the incentives and strategies that | | | | The partnership features other programs especially |
| educators can take back to their own schools and use | | | | intended to help educators who would like to create or |
| to support the growth of Chinese programs. Currently | | | | grow a Chinese language and culture program in their |
| there are only about 24,000 students in the US | | | | schools or districts. Because of this program plans |
| studying Chinese compared with close to 150 million | | | | have been made to allow 250 guest teachers from |
| Chinese students studying English. During the trip, | | | | China to work in schools in the United States. Also |
| educators will have an opportunity to meet with | | | | some American teachers will begin training at Beijing |
| Chinese education leaders, build sister school and city | | | | Normal University and Shanghai International Studies |
| ties, and network with other U.S. school leaders who | | | | University. The first sessions begin this summer with |
| are bringing Chinese language programs to their | | | | sixty teachers from across the nation attending special |
| districts and schools. Orlando Schools want to ensure | | | | intensive courses to gain state certification to teach |
| they are prepared for the new opportunities to offer | | | | Chinese classes for the new school year. |