Mason District

Mason District Candidate Responses to Fairfax FLAGS


Below are responses provided by School Board candidate and incumbent, Sandy Evans, who is running unopposed.

Q1: Do you support the School Board’s student achievement goal 1.2 – all students should graduate with the ability to communicate in at least two languages? Why or why not?

Evans: Yes. This is important to bringing FCPS students into the Global Village of the 21st Century.


Q2: Do you believe that starting world language instruction in elementary school classrooms with teacher-based programs such as Immersion and FLES (Foreign Language in the Elementary Schools) is the best way to develop the higher levels of language proficiency needed to accomplish the above goal? Why or why not?

Evans: Starting language instruction in elementary school is the best way to develop language skills. Immersion has proven itself successful in developing long-term language skills. The jury is out on FLES. While some argue that something is better than nothing, and that FLES at the very least trains the developing brain to accept new languages, FLES is still pretty minimal (usually 2 sessions of 25-30 minutes a week). Some teachers and parents are skeptical of its long-term impact. We should review whether FLES is or is not doing the job well and if there are more effective ways of teaching foreign languages at the elementary school level.


Q3: Do you consider second or multiple language skills to be an important aspect of 21st century skills for today’s students to successfully compete in the future? Why or why not?

Evans: Yes. Multilingualism will only increase in the 21st Century, and we do not want our students to be behind in a world that is increasingly international. Our children will think nothing of moving from country to country in their jobs and in their lives. They need to be prepared to communicate wherever they go.


Q4: Our elementary foreign language programs (Immersion and FLES) currently serve nearly 20,000* elementary students at 44 schools. Given that FCPS will continue to face budget challenges, do you consider it a priority to keep these programs intact for children currently benefitting from them at existing schools?

Evans: I don’t see either of these programs threatened in the coming year by budget cuts.


Q5: The FLES program was originally scheduled to be implemented over a seven- year period, however, expansion beyond the existing 32 schools was put on hold due to the recession and budget constraints. Would you support continued expansion of the FLES program in the future to bring foreign language instruction to all FCPS elementary students? Why or why not?

Evans: I would first like to see an evaluation of the current FLES program for its long-term effectiveness. I would also be interested in exploring other methods/programs for language instruction in elementary schools. My concern is not with the goal but with whether 2 sessions of 25 minutes each a week is true language instruction. Your group can play an important role in helping us determine whether this is indeed the best “bang for the buck” in language education or if other approaches could work better as we progress toward making our students truly bi- or multi-lingual.


*Exact student enrollment numbers for FLES and immersion for the current 2011-2012 school year were not yet available from the FCPS World Language office at this time, however, should be available soon.