Addressing the Growing Demand for Late French Immersion in School District 20
By Contributor
Submitted by a group of Rossland Summit School parents
As Canadians, children across the country are offered education in Canada’s two official languages – English and French. In School District 20 (SD20), there is a Late French Immersion (LFI) program available at Rossland Summit School. This program is currently limited to a select number of students entering Grade 6. The popular program consistently receives more applications than the 30 spots available each year. LFI provides students with a unique opportunity to become bilingual, learning a second language throughout the remainder of their schooling and graduating with a Double Dogwood diploma. The high application rate demonstrates that parents understand the benefits of LFI: students develop strong language skills in both official languages, gain cognitive flexibility, enhance cultural awareness and foster a deep sense of national identity. Additionally, graduating with a Double Dogwood opens expanded educational, career and job opportunities after high school.
Unfortunately, this year 16 students are being denied access to this valuable program, leaving many families devastated. For some, the disappointment is particularly poignant as they have siblings currently enrolled in the program. The issue of high enrolment has been a growing trend in SD20. Last year, 14 students were also denied access, partly due to the discontinuation of the LFI program in Castlegar. Students from the entire district who wish to join LFI are now required to commute to Rossland, further highlighting the demand and need for expansion.
Given the steadily increasing demand for LFI and the high enrolment numbers in elementary grades, the SD20 community is advocating for an increase in the number of students accepted into the LFI program. Currently, there is a surplus of waitlisted students at the Grade 6 and 7 levels, indicating that the creation of a second LFI class is a viable solution. Our community values this program immensely, and its continued popularity highlights not only its success but also the urgent need for innovative solutions to allow more students access to this critical educational opportunity.
One suggestion put forward is the creation of a new Grade 6/7 LFI split class for the 2025-2026 school year. This approach would echo the model originally used to start the LFI program and would help ensure that more students are able to benefit from the program’s offerings. Limiting enrolment to 30 students per year is depriving an increasing number of students of the chance to learn in a language of their choice, develop a strong learning community and engage in cultural and enrichment activities that are integral to the LFI experience.
Our neighbouring district, SD8 (serving the Kootenay Lake communities), offers a Late French Immersion program at Trafalgar Middle School in Nelson. With similar demand, SD8 will be offering two classes of 20 students for the 2025-2026 school year, along with three Grade 7 classes and one class each for Grade 8 and Grade 9.
For SD20, increasing the number of students entering the French Immersion program would also benefit administrators at JL Crowe Secondary School. Currently, they are experiencing small class sizes due to gradual attrition of students from the program. Expanding the program in lower grades would support stronger enrolment and more robust class structures throughout the higher grades.
The growing demand for Late French Immersion in School District 20 presents an opportunity for our district to think creatively and expand access to this valuable program. Increasing the number of spots available would ensure that more students can benefit from this unique learning experience and continue to thrive as bilingual individuals, not only in Canada – which has two official languages – but also in our increasingly globalized world.
The wider SD20 community is requesting a meeting with SD20 senior management to discuss possible solutions to the current situation.
To show your support in expanding the LFI program, please sign this petition (https://www.change.org/p/expand-late-french-immersion-program-in-school-district-20-s-rossland-summit-school)
To show your interest in future LFI programs in SD20, please complete the LFI Demand Assessment Survey (https://forms.gle/P9JZppGshSFpgNGE6)
If you’d like to join the conversation, please join the SD20 LFI Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18ZBqpY3q6/)
