Applications accepted for FCPS immersion programs

Online registration for Fairfax County Public Schools’ two-way and partial immersion elementary school foreign language programs opened Jan. 5.

Current kindergarten students may apply for the partial-immersion world language program for the 2010-11 school year, which is offered at 12 elementary schools, including Bailey’s Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences in Bailey’s Crossroads. Students spend half of each day learning math, science, and health in a foreign language and the other half learning social studies, language arts, and reading in English.

Baileys is one of six county schools offering a partial immersion program in Spanish. One school offers German, two offer French, and two have a Japanese program. Applications are due Feb. 16.

Interested parents should attend an informational meeting at Bailey’s Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. (The snow date is Feb. 11.) A schedule of meetings at other schools can be found online.

Current preschool-age students may apply for the two-way immersion program. This program is for kindergartners and is only available in Spanish and only offered at Bailey’s and three other schools in other parts of the county. Applications are due May 10.