Jawando Files Federal Complaint For 'Discrimination' In Language Immersion Programs

Language immersion programs are for students whose parents want them to learn a language other than English. However, according to a complaint by a former White House aide and congressional candidate Will Jawando, the availability of these programs are not being properly announced to people of color and those coming from impoverished communities.

Will Jawando filed a federal civil rights complaint against the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)' system of recruiting and selecting students for language immersion programs. As per The Sentinel, Jawando alleges that MCPS is violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VI protects the right of any race and/or color to equally access and receive federal assistance programs.

Jawando's complaint calls the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights to conduct an investigation as to why there's a lower turnout of non-white and non-poor students on language immersion programs. It further asks MCPS to make language immersion and other special academic programs more accessible and accommodating to elementary African American and Hispanic students (via The Washington Post).

The complaint arose when Jawando and wife only found out about the offered language immersion programs on a soccer game conversation. The couple immediately enrolled their daughter in the Spanish immersion program but was rejected.

Jawando appealed the decision but got no response. He decided to take the battle to the federal level in order to also give voice to the families experiencing the same situation (via The Washington Post).

According to Jawando, most parents who were not aware of such programs were black and Hispanic. This resulted to the language immersion programs being filled with white and non-poor students (via The Washington Post).

Another problem with the selection of language immersion programs is the automatic admission of siblings of current students. In Jawando's case, the school he is trying to get his daughter enrolled into, already has 45 percent of slots filled with sibling applicants (via The Washington Post).

As for others, sibling admission has its benefits. Learning a new language with a sibling can help them communicate with the new language even when at home or other places. However, for Jawando this limits the number of slots needed to diversify the student population enrolled in language immersion programs.

Do you agree with Jawando that the recruitment and selection process of MCPS discriminates people of color? Sound off your thoughts on the Comments section below.