Timeline

Dated events from public records. Items labeled planning endpoint are arithmetic for a proposed remedy, not district plans.

1. 2015

   History

   Strategic planning identifies globally competitive opportunities

   The district's 2023 report traces the program to its 2015 strategic-planning process. ¹

2. 2017–18

   History

   Chinese Immersion launches at Wolf Springs Elementary

   A 50/50 dual-language kindergarten option opens. ¹

3. 2018–19

   History

   Valley Park Elementary added as a second site

   Valley Park enrollment was later limited starting 2020–21 because of facility pressure. ¹

4. Feb 6, 2023

   Board

   Program evaluation presented to the Board

   Administration presented four options, including sunset options. Under all four, current immersion students "would take 1.0 Chinese at MS commensurate with their incoming performance level." The Board did not adopt any of them. It agreed to work with parents through a smaller advisory group and return with a revised proposal. ^{4 5}

5. Mar–Oct 2023

   History

   Chinese Immersion Advisory Task Force meets six times

   Charged with "identifying options for sustaining Mandarin in Blue Valley," the group included parents, teachers, the teachers' association, administrators and two Board members. ^{6 7}

6. Apr 25, 2023

   History

   Requested Data Report

   It lists assumptions (Mandarin should continue; the current delivery model is not sustainable), non-negotiables, staffing risks, and a $752,790 mixed actual/budgeted incremental-cost table. ¹

7. Nov 13, 2023

   Board

   Board adopts task-force recommendation, 4–3

   Elementary immersion is consolidated at Wolf Springs. Valley Park begins a sunset in 2024–25, and current Valley Park students "would continue in the program." ^{2 7}

8. 2024–25

   Program change

   Valley Park sunset begins

   One grade leaves the Valley Park program each year. ⁸

9. Aug 10, 2026

   Board

   Board adopts a 2026–27 goal: a K–12 World Language evaluation

   The 2026–27 District Goals, approved 7–0, include: "Complete a K–12 World Language program evaluation and present recommendations." No evaluation has been published. ^{9 10}

10. Oct 9, 2026

    History

    District budget video

    Reductions so far "got us to $6 million, but it's just not enough"; about $12 million of reserves closed the 2026 fiscal year; "approximately a $4 million deficit" is projected. ¹¹

11. Oct 12, 2026

    Board

    Regular Board meeting

    The agenda includes a policy item on high-school credit for middle-school world-language courses. No Chinese-immersion cancellation item appears. ¹²

12. Oct 14, 2026

    Board

    Special Board meeting and roundtable

    The agenda lists community input and discussion, with no program action item. KCTV5 reported that the superintendent said cutting the program would save nine teacher positions if students returned to their neighborhood schools, and that staffing would stay the same if families stay. ^{13 14}

13. 2026 (date not established)

    Program change

    District FAQ announces end of elementary and middle-school Chinese

    The FAQ's first posting date has not been verified. The approving action or delegation has not been located. ¹⁵

14. Nov 9, 2026

    Upcoming

    Next regular Board meeting

    5:30 p.m. CST, with Open Forum before the meeting. ¹⁶

15. Nov 2026 (date not posted)

    Upcoming

    Academic & Activities advisory committee expected to discuss language programming

    Reported to the Board on October 12 as a topic for "next month"; no date or agenda has been posted. ¹⁷

16. 2026–27

    Program change

    Current programming continues

    Elementary immersion and middle-school Chinese continue through the end of this school year. ¹⁵

17. 2027–28

    Program change

    Elementary and middle-school Chinese end; high school conditional

    The older elementary page still describes Valley Park's final class exiting after this year. That conflict has not been explained. ^{15 8}

18. 2031–32

    Planning endpoint

    Planning endpoint: youngest current cohort finishes 5th grade

    This applies only if the proposed no-new-entry pathway were adopted. It is ordinary grade progression, not a district plan or cost forecast.

19. 2034–35

    Planning endpoint

    Planning endpoint: youngest current cohort finishes 8th grade

    This is the same proposal and arithmetic, extended through middle school.

What the 2023 record adds

The 2023 process matters because it is the most recent Board vote on this program that we have found in the public record. ^{2 3}

A fair reading of the 2023 record: the district committed more clearly to a continuing Mandarin, AP and proficiency pathway than to any fixed site or delivery model. The task force was created to improve sustainability, and its final proposal consolidated sites while keeping the 50/50 model. ^{1 7 6}

Gaps in the timeline