LVDLCS Founding Coalition and Board of Directors

Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT IS A CHARTER SCHOOL?

A Charter School is a public school of choice that meets the Pennsylvania Academic State Standards and offers unique features. Since it is a public school, it is free; there is no tuition.

WHY A CHARTER SCHOOL IN BETHLEHEM?

Across the Lehigh Valley, school districts have struggled to meet the needs of linguistically diverse students for a variety of reasons. We envision filling this need through the establishment of a K-8 free public charter school that is smaller, more personable, and founded on instructional strategies and techniques that meet the unique needs of our linguistically diverse students.

WHO WILL IT SERVE?

The Lehigh Valley Dual Language Charter School (LVDLCS) will serve linguistically diverse students in grades K-8. The priority will be given to students from the Bethlehem Area School District (BASD).

HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT THIS EFFORT?

Talk to others about the Lehigh Valley Dual Language Charter School! Encourage them to come to meetings and pre-register their children in the school.

HOW WILL IT BENEFIT OUR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY?

The LVDLCS provides a school that is:

● smaller

● more personable

● more understanding of the cultural and educational needs of linguistically diverse students.

About LVDLCS

ABOUT LVDLCS

SMALL CLASS SIZE

There will be two sections of 25 students at each grade level, starting with grades K-5 in the first year, and adding one grade level of 40 students each subsequent year until it is a school of grades K-8, totaling 450 students.

INSTRUCTION

The teachers will be extensively trained in dual language instruction. The students will benefit from their teachers’ use of cutting edge instructional strategies such as Cognitive Academic Language Learning Approach (CALLA) and Sheltered Instruction Operational Protocol (SIOP). Effective, meaningful Spanish language instruction in the content areas will be provided for native English speakers. The goal is bilingualism/biculturalism for all students. When students complete their K-8 education at the LVDLCS, they will have many advantages over students from other schools. They will have valuable 21st century skills, achievement in bilingualism/biculturalism, and experience in how they can positively affect local community and global relationships. The thematic focus is on dual language acquisition and academic achievement. The school will implement a rigorous curriculum that will share the high expectations of the mainstream Bethlehem Area School District (BASD) program. Students will be placed in heterogeneous language groups to learn content materials in both English and Spanish. They will acquire the critical skills and information for each subject area as defined in the PA State Academic Standards.

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY PROJECT

The Multi-Disciplinary Project (MDP) encourages students to go beyond their classroom expectations and develop a project that demonstrates their intellectual, linguistic, and creative abilities. It is an opportunity for students to apply, analyze, synthesize, evaluate information, and communicate significant knowledge and comprehension. Clearly, by means of the MDP, critical thinking and questioning skills will be promoted. The MDP will also develop citizenship and a sense of community responsibility and leadership through its emphasis on that theme. Here are some of the requirements of the MDP: • The project must be original and focus on an area of interest, related to a career possibility, or developed from a major community interest project. • The project must contain written, oral, and visual components that incorporate technology. • Students must use technology in the completion of their multi-disciplinary project.