Houston ISD is floating a plan that would dramatically shrink Mark White Elementary’s French dual‑language immersion in grades 1 through 5. Those classrooms would shift to English‑first for core subjects, with French trimmed back to a smaller enrichment elective, while pre‑K and kindergarten would keep their current split schedule. The district’s own presentation slides put the change in place for the 2026‑27 school year, and families say it has them questioning whether the French program they signed up for will still exist by the time their kids get there. For many, the French track was the reason they chose Mark White in the first place, and they say this proposal has them eyeing other campuses.
What HISD is proposing
According to the Houston Chronicle, presentation slides obtained by the paper outline a shift that would move first‑ through fifth‑grade instruction into English for core academics and push French into an elective slot for older students. The slides describe current daily schedules where French is woven across the day, including extended math and language blocks taught in French, and contrast that with a model that reserves immersion only for the youngest learners on campus. The Chronicle also cited district data showing that enrollment has dipped in recent years, a trend district leaders pointed to when discussing why they are considering the change.
State rules that matter
Under Texas administrative rules, any dual‑language immersion program must follow a language allocation plan that delivers at least 50 percent of content‑area instructional time in the partner language for the life of the program. Once French is reduced to an enrichment model, the proposed structure would no longer meet the state’s own definition of dual‑language immersion. That seemingly technical shift could affect how the program is monitored and how the campus reports its bilingual outcomes.
Mark White’s program and recognition
Mark White opened in 2016 as the district’s only public French immersion campus and still advertises a split French‑English schedule, with native‑speaker instruction and biliteracy resources, on Mark White Elementary. The school also received a LabelFrancÉducation seal from Villa Albertine, a distinction supported by the Consulate General of France, as reported by the Houston Chronicle last year. Parents and PTO leaders told reporters that the recognition helped cement Mark White as a rare public option for French immersion in Houston, and they say the proposed rollback feels like a significant loss for the city’s Francophone community.
Board rules and what comes next
In early 2025, HISD’s board adopted new constraints that require research‑based analysis and stakeholder engagement before the superintendent can make what the policy labels a “significant” change to specialized programs. The discussion at the January meeting lays out reporting requirements when changes affect roughly 30 percent or more of a program, according to the board’s January meeting video. Those governance rules give families a formal route to press for impact studies on student outcomes, enrollment, and campus budgets before any new model is approved. Parents say they expect trustees to lean on those protections to slow down or reshape the district’s French plan.
Legal and practical implications
If the district proceeds, Mark White would likely lose its official immersion designation, which could alter how the program is evaluated and what supports are tied to its dual‑language status. Families warn that scaling back immersion could drive some students to private French schools or to other magnet programs, which could tighten enrollment pressure elsewhere at a time when Mark White’s own numbers have already fallen. Advocates argue that, given state rules and the board’s new constraints, HISD should have to release the underlying data and host public forums before anything becomes final.
How families can respond
Families hoping to keep a French pathway for their children are working against the calendar. HISD’s School Choice schedule shows that Phase 1 closes on Feb. 27, which effectively starts the countdown for anyone seeking alternatives for the 2026‑27 school year. Many parents say they plan to make the rounds at school‑choice fairs and to call for a transparent review that includes staffing plans and curriculum maps. For now, they say they will be glued to board agendas, School Choice announcements, and campus communications as they wait for formal word on what happens next at Mark White.
