Cerritos : ABC Schools Might Offer 2 Asian Language Courses
High school students in the ABC Unified district could be learning Korean and Chinese next fall if the school board approves a trustee’s plan to expand language programs.
The school board will meet Tuesday to consider trustee Howard Kwon’s proposal to add two foreign language courses. Kwon said he proposed the additional Asian languages for students who are considering careers in Asian economics and world trade.
Kwon added that he would like to have the classes available for students who come from homes where the languages are spoken but who do not have command of the languages. About 10% of the 21,000 students in the district come from homes where Korean is spoken, and about 6% come from homes where Chinese is spoken, Kwon said.
It would cost about $320,000 to add the two languages at every high school, according to a staff report. District officials said ABC Unified already faces a deficit of about $1.6 million at the end of the 1994-95 school year if programs are not cut. Kwon said the program could cost less if the languages are offered only at some schools.
The district currently offers classes in Spanish, French and Japanese.
The ABC district operates schools in Cerritos, Artesia, Hawaiian Gardens and surrounding communities.
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