Backgrounder

• In July 2007, the Department of Education initiated a comprehensive review of French second language programming and services within the Anglophone school system.
• The review is one of the key actions under the government's plan, When kids come first, to build the best education system in the country.
• The mandate of the review was to engage students, parents, teachers, educators and identified stakeholders in a review of the current models of French second-language instruction, and to make recommendations designed to assist the Anglophone sector in developing French second-language programs that will be in the best interests of all students
• Jim Croll and Patricia Lee served as commissioners of the review. Between July 2007 and February 2008, they reviewed the current models of French second-language instruction; engaged students, teachers, educators and stakeholders; and analyzed previous reports and data relative to the topic.
• The French Second Language Commission delivered its final report to Education Minister Kelly Lamrock on February, 18. The commission publicly released the report on February 27.
• The French Second Language report contains 18 recommendations that the French Second Language Commission believes will be of crucial importance in improving the state of French second-language learning in New Brunswick.
• On March 14, Education Minister Kelly Lamrock announced the Government of New Brunswick's response to the French Second Language Report and what changes will be made to the Anglophone sector's French Second Language programs.
• The objective of the changes are to improve the delivery French Second Language programs, improve French Second Language proficiency results, and improve our students overall performance, especially in the areas of literacy, math and science.

1. All FSL programming for the Anglophone sector will begin at Grade 5 with a universal Intensive French program and within three years, the requirement for Intensive French would be mandatory for all students in the Anglophone sector.
2. Following Grade 5, students (and parents) would be given the option of choosing the Late Immersion model or the Post Intensive French model.
3. Students currently enrolled in Early Immersion would be grandfathered.
4. The Department of Education would develop a plan to use the gained instructional time from the elimination of Core French for art, music, physical education and enrichment opportunities.
5. A new policy on «Bilingual Learning Environments» will be developed which will require (a) principals of schools with Grade 6-12 students to take full advantage of having a student body with 100% exposure to French through integrating conversational French opportunities into school life, and (b) requiring principals of elementary schools to provide co-curricular programming introducing students to the bilingual and French culture in New Brunswick.
6. The Post Intensive French model (Grades 6 to 12) would include new intensive FSL instruction modules built into the English Program.
7. All students who choose to enrol in Post Intensive French beginning in 2009-2010 would be required to continue FSL instruction through to Grade 12.
8. The proficiency target for the Intensive French model would remain the Intermediate Level at this time, with the potential to increase the target depending on overall student success.
9. The Late Immersion model, beginning in Grade 6, would be adopted as the sole French Immersion model for Anglophone students in New Brunswick.
10. The Late Immersion model would be strengthened through improved teaching selection and training and improved methods of FSL instruction. This includes adapting methods of instruction which are successful in the Intensive French model (student driven/project based instruction).
11. All students who choose to enrol in the Late Immersion model beginning in 2009-2010 would be required to continue FSL instruction through to Grade 12.
12. The proficiency target for the Late Immersion model would remain at the Intermediate Plus Level at this time, with the potential to increase the target depending on overall student success.
13. High school students in Late Immersion and Post Intensive French would be allowed to take their Grades 10-12 math and science courses in English, but provide the option for instruction to be in French where resources allow.
14. All other existing French Second Language Programs in New Brunswick schools would be phased-out beginning in the 2008-2009 school year.
15. Policy 309 would be amended as required to reflect the above recommendations, and to include the Intensive French/Post Intensive French models.
16. The Department of Education would immediately strike a working group to develop the above policy.
17. The Department of Education would undertake a review of human resources and professional development opportunities to maximize the deployment of French Immersion teachers to increase the inclusive nature of Late Immersion.
18. The Department of Education would work towards having evaluation regimes in place by 2011-2012 which will monitor school and district effectiveness of meeting FSL targets in the new structure.
19. The Department of Education and government would publicly state that the target of «70% of all students reaching the intermediate level» is considered an interim objective «on the road» to Policy 309 proficiency levels.
20. The Department of Education's future accreditation program for the Faculties of Education in New Brunswick universities (see WKCF) would include screening requirements for future FSL teachers, and that pre-service and in-service teacher training programs would be modified to ensure high level FSL and high level academic instruction in the Late Immersion and Intensive French/Post Intensive French models.
21. The Department of Education would re-profile resources from the Early Immersion model and Core French model (Grades 1-4) into strengthening the Late Immersion model and the Intensive French/Post Intensive French models.
22. Special needs students within the Late Immersion model and the Post Intensive French model would receive the integrated services they require, on parity with each other.