On October 2, I was thrilled to join Council Member Ben Kallos, French Consul Jérémie Robert, Community Education Council President Maud Maron, parents, teachers, and school administrators for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate two new French dual language classes that have opened at the District 2 Pre-K Center located at 355 East 76^th Street in Manhattan. The joyous occasion for the families who attended the ribbon cutting and for all supporters comes after a very dedicated group of parents, including members of the Francophone community from Canada, Africa, and France, met with more than two hundred families who pledged to send their children to a French dual language program in Manhattan if one was created. I particularly congratulate the incredible efforts put forth by parents such as Stéphane Lautner, Catherine Rémy, and Nadia Levy who have kept the torch of the Bilingual Revolution burning in Manhattan even during these tough times. The French dual language classes began on September 21st with seats for 36 pre-K students. The Department of Education will operate these classes using a side-by-side instructional model where it will have one Early Childhood-certified teacher who is fluent in French and who has or will work towards a bilingual extension, alongside a second Early Childhood-certified teacher.

Here are quotes from some of the participants as well as a news report and additional photos and links.

『バイリンガル革命：教育の未来は2カ国語で』は、NYCの公立学校でデュアルランゲージ教育プログラムを立ち上げた保護者と教育者の物語、ひらめき、実践的な助言に満ちている。バイリンガル校の力で教育に革命を起こすためのハウツー本。The Bilingual Revolution is now available in Japanese and 10 additional languages. #bilingualrevolution cover art Raymond Verdaguer