Members of the Cupertino Union School District Board of Trustees could decide as early at next month whether the district will implement a Mandarin immersion program this fall.
Superintendent William Bragg said the board recently discussed the program as part of its goals and objectives for the 1998-99 school year.
He said members are currently investigating how other districts have implemented similar programs, and are studying the cost, curriculum outline and facility needs of the program.
He said members could be ready to make an appropriate recommendation this May.
Board member Roberta Pabst said, "Right now there's very little to say. We are looking at it, and that's all. We aren't ready to give a 'yes' or 'no' without a good understanding of it."
If approved, the voluntary English/Mandarin Two-Way Immersion Program would start in kindergarten and first grade in its first year as part of the district's alternative education program and would expand every year thereafter.
Board members first discussed the program during the regular board meeting March 24, where approximately 200 residents overflowed the boardroom - most of them there to generate support for the proposal.
Board members ended the nearly three-hour discussion, promising to study the parent-launched proposal.
Backers say they want to see a program in place by fall.