Research Foreign Language Immersion public Schools in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

“I was very excited to send my son to this school last year for kindergarten and he has returned for the first grade this year. His teacher was fantastic and really spent spent a lot of time giving him extra work to keep him challenged. The problem I have with this school is the leadership and administrative staff. I already thought the school was unorganized but it was even more evident this morning with the complete chaos that was the first morning of the new school year. They have a huge challenges with communicationa and organization. I feel as though the prinipal and her staff do not have the ability to communicate effectively and they seem to have no desire to do so. If there is not drastic improvement in this area I will not send him back next year.”

“this school is wonderful I love it . My children are very fulient in spanish now”

“FLICS is not a good school, the school needs a stronger principal and a better vice principal. This is not the school for my children and yours.”

“My child transferred to FLICS in the 7th grade. I thought it was a great concept and my child had great hopes in learning Japanese. My son did very well in Japanese and loves the language. The Japanese teacher is good, very attentive. The draw back is only one high school offers Japanese and that is Cass. If your child is going to Renaissance or King, you can forget it!”

“Flics is not a good school for the students”

“The school has no organization. Teachers are often late or absent. Communication between the school/teachers and parents is nonexistent. Office staff often seem overwhelmed and uncertain about how to answer parents' questions about general issues.”

“I am unhappy with FLICS. You have to be a classroom parent or else involved with school to get a special treatment for you and your child. It is sad but it is true. There is lack of communication between parents and teachers. They will call you only if there is something wrong. We are taking our girl elswere.”

“FLICS is a superior school in many ways- quality of teacher instruction, the langugae curriculum, and parental involvement. The challeneges that FLICS has in the 2006-2007 school yeas come from a) a move to a newer building and b) the expansion of the school to include a 6-8 grade program. Many of the challeneges come from students who have transferred in from other schools. Schools dont expand if they arent performing at high levels. A child beginning in this program in the primary grades will be proficient enough to place out of high school level language classes. My place of birth is questioned by native spanish-speakers after they have spoken with my 5th grade daughter in Spanish. A truly global education awaits at FLICS; the long term benefits are undisputable.”

“The immersion concept is wonderful. The parent involvement is necessary. The staff and administration are horrible. My wife and I both participate at school functions, work with our child in her language of choice, work with her when there is home work. I find that the teachers and administration have there favor student(s) that they choose to nurture and protect. All children should be given the same opportunities.”

“My daughters won't be returning to FLICS after the holidays. This school does not have the professionalism that I expect. I felt that my views and involvemnent as a parent were not welcomed. So long DPS, it's off to private school we go ...”

“Boy I am totally over this school. Foreign language immersion is an excellent concept and the school has great potential, but I will agree with other parents, this school lacks the appropriate administrative practices, staff, and services to really come out on top. I even think the school works best for the younger children in K-2 with its full immersion, but becomes totally chaotic at the higher grades. It is even easier to follow up at home with other materials when children are small, such as basic arithmetic and reading. Once the children are older...forget about it. FLICS becomes another flaw in the DPS system. If FLICS had the right funding and management, I think it would work, but right now my experience has been less than favorable!”

“My children have flourished at FLICS. They are strong in their subjects, and have progressed in both the Japanese and French languages. The premise of the school definitely works when parents are involved. If you do not have the time to focus on your children, and enhance their development in coursework as well as the foreign languages, then this school is not for you. I really love the multicultural philosophy. I was a bit concerned about the move to a new building, but now that the children are there, things are looking better. It has nice science labs,air conditioning, and adequate space for the children. I believe FLICS is a great school of choice!”

“My family did not have the best experience with FLICS. The school seems really over-rated. Organization lacks terribly. The bi-lingual philosophy is great, but the school needs more staff, funding, and leadership to function successfully.”

“I withdrew my child from FLICS this past school year because of poor administrative practices. The prinicpal was slow to address legitimate complaints from parents.The school did not have much structure.”

“Flics have now moved to their new location. I find that the school is not all what it claims to be. The school does not have enough teachers for each grade level. The curriculm of learning moves to fast for kindergarteners to grasp this new language and style of teaching. Sometimes the communcation between the teachers can be difficult because it is hard to understand them.”

“This is my first year at F.l.i.c.s., and my child is being taught all the required english for the semester at one time. Then the class moves on to all the math required for the semester, etc. My child & I find this a bit overwhelming, she feels the work is being thrown at her in school. So when she arrives home I find myself working with her on a daily basis, reviewing concepts and teaching her myself. I am not sure this is what I'd like to keep doing til the 5th grade. I wasn't prepared for the reality of the immersion concept. Most of the teachers have accents that take time to get accustomed to, which slows down the learning process for new students just entering the school. The tutoring available for her language costs $25.00 per week, the other languages are free. I hope my child survives this transition.”

“I feel that FLICS is an exceptional school, but with any learning experience for children parents have to do their part. Children learn from their environment first, meaning teach your kids the fundamentals at home. How to play fair, respect the rights of others, how to respect those in authority, pay attention, and accept challenges. Teachers have their part as educators, but parents know first hand if their child is prepare for a immersion study program. Foreign teachers have different cultures, and teaching techniques, than American educators. FLICS is a challenge, just as any others tool for learning. Work with you child, and teach, and appreciate the opportunity.”

“I went to this school K-3, and I really enjoyed this school. It had a great idea but it just didn't have the funding, at least when I went there, to properly excute the goals that they set. I want my children to go to a school just like this one. I feel that this school did wonders for me as a child cause it allowed me to not believe that English is the only language to know, it allowed me to be more culturally open and diverse.”

“My children attended from K-2nd. Kindergarden and 1st grades were good; 2nd grade has been horrible. Good Theory, poor practice. I feel this year was a waste to my children and fear they lack in a lot of areas.”

“I have a child that has been going to this school since the kindergarten, she is in the Spanish curriculum. I really like the fact that the curriculum has foreign language, that is four different languages, Spanish, French, Japanese and Chinese. I also like the fact that the teachers are from the native countries. I also like the fact that the principal is allowing the children to be individuals. I am proud to be a parent of a student that has more than one language learned.”

“I have one child in Japanese, one in Spanish and a neice and nephew in the French program. The school also offers chinese. The children are taught in the language solely most of the day. My sons are practically fluent. This school is one of the best kept secrets of the Detroit public School system. Parents say they want to prepare there children for a gobal economy and a world of diversity. What better way to do so? My children are nearly fluent in a language at 6 and 7 years old and are taught the culture as well! This school is excellent!”