A standing-room-only crowd of parents filled a Mount Diablo Unified School District board meeting Tuesday night, urging trustees to slam the brakes on a plan to phase out the two-way Spanish immersion program at Bancroft Elementary and move it to nearby Woodside Elementary. Families delivered a petition with roughly 300 signatures and said the district’s announcement caught them off guard. They warned that the timing, just before kindergarten enrollment, could split siblings between schools, complicate daily commutes, and alter Bancroft’s demographics.
Parents Press Board, Present Petition
Parents told trustees they were given little notice about the change and asked for more time to weigh their options, as reported by KTVU. One speaker said, "They did not engage us," capturing the frustration in the room as families pushed the board to put the brakes on the rollout and work with them to explore alternatives.
District: Phased Move Starts With Kindergarten
According to Bancroft Elementary's site, MDUSD has posted that the Two-Way Dual Immersion program is slated for a phased transition beginning in the 2026-27 school year. Kindergarten would move first, with one additional grade shifting each year until the entire program is based at Woodside. The district’s online notice describes the move as a long-range staffing and enrollment decision designed to keep the immersion program viable.
Parents Raise Practical Concerns
Parents told trustees they still have unresolved questions about day-to-day logistics and how the transition could affect Bancroft’s demographics, as reported by KTVU. Wendi Aghily, the district’s chief of pupil services and special education, responded that current students "can have the option to remain in place" while the program is phased out.
Why Two-Way Programs Matter Locally
Two-way dual immersion programs teach core subjects in both English and Spanish, with the goal of building strong skills in reading and writing in both languages. MDUSD points to Holbrook Language Academy and its awards as part of the district’s broader language strategy, according to Holbrook Language Academy. Parents at the meeting argued that the Bancroft program’s value runs deeper than language alone, saying it shapes community identity and school culture.
What's Next
Trustees did not move to overturn the plan at the meeting, and it remains unclear whether they will formally revisit the transition at upcoming sessions. Parents say they intend to keep pressing the district for more data, a slower rollout, and meaningful family engagement before kindergarten enrollment begins.
