Joshua Laplante
The recent article regarding Cranston’s response to the proposed De La Comunidad Bilingual School (DLC-B) warrants important clarification.
The Cranston's City Council president’s opposition to DLC-B does not represent the families this school is intended to serve, many of whom the City Council has historically struggled to meaningfully engage. 1,754 people submitted letters of support in favor of DLC-B, including more than 100 Cranston residents.
Repeatedly stating “this is a great idea, just not for Cranston” ignores the many Cranston families who are seeking new educational opportunities for their children. De La Comunidad, meaning “of the community,” was designed by the community for the community. That fact should not be dismissed.
DLC-B would be RI’s firstK-12 dual-language, full-service community school. Claiming this work is “duplicative” is incorrect. Cranston has experienced a 113% increase in Multilingual Learners (MLLs) from 2013 to 2023. DLC-B will complement and expand efforts to support these students.
RI’s Strategic Plan for MLL Success specifically calls for expanding access to high-quality bilingual and bicultural programs and developing multiliteracy through the growth of dual-language programs from pre-K through grade 12. DLC-B will do just that.
As the number of MLL learners in Cranston continues to grow and student needs evolve, we look forward to working collaboratively with Cranston Public Schools and the other sending districts to serve students and families.
