At tomorrow’s Mayor and Council meeting, the City Council will consider Action Item 26-G-21, a letter of support urging continued funding for the Paint Branch Elementary School Chinese Immersion Program. This action reflects ongoing concerns from College Park families about proposed school budget changes that would eliminate the Chinese Immersion pathway and significantly reduce language immersion opportunities for students.
The Chinese Immersion Program at Paint Branch has long been a valued educational option for families in our community. It offers students the chance to develop strong language skills, cultural awareness, and global competency from an early age, and it connects to continuing immersion opportunities through middle and high school. Many parents have shared that the program is not simply an enrichment option — it is a defining part of the school’s identity and a key reason families choose to live and stay in College Park.
Recent parent survey results help illustrate the strength of support. As suggested by Senator Rosapepe and approved by Mr. Hendershot, a survey was distributed to families to understand how many would remain in Chinese Immersion if given the choice. Out of 116 responses, 85.3% of families said they want to stay in the program, while only 7.8% said they would opt out, and 6.9% were unsure. These results clearly show overwhelming parent interest in maintaining the program.
Families were also asked whether the presence of the Chinese Immersion program influenced their decision to move to or remain in College Park. The responses were telling: 59.5% said yes, and another 13.8% said it was one of several reasons. That means nearly three-quarters of responding families identified the program as an important factor in their housing and community decisions. These numbers highlight that immersion education is not only an academic benefit — it also plays a meaningful role in attracting and retaining families in our city.
Community advocacy has also been strong. At last week’s public hearing at the Board of Education budget hearing, 30 parents, students, and community members testified in support of language immersion and IB programs, while opposing proposals that would shift funding away from these educational pathways. In addition, 62 written testimonies were submitted prior to the hearing, and more than 150 residents attended as listeners, demonstrating broad community engagement and concern.
The proposed City Council letter does not make the funding decision — that authority rests with the Prince George’s County Board of Education — but it allows the City to formally advocate on behalf of our families and students. Supporting high-quality, globally relevant educational opportunities aligns with our City’s broader goals of strengthening education, supporting families, and maintaining College Park as a welcoming and competitive community.
If you would like to show your support, residents are encouraged to sign and share the community petition calling on school leaders to protect language immersion programs:
➡️ Sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/save-pgcps-language-immersion-programs
Our schools matter to our families, our neighborhoods, and the future of College Park. Thank you to everyone who continues to engage respectfully and advocate for strong educational opportunities for all students.