FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 22, 2014

New International Language Immersion School for Cleveland

A new charter school is in the works for Cleveland, Global Ambassadors Language Academy (GALA). The K-8 school will offer students Mandarin and Spanish Immersion and International Baccalaureate curriculum. GALA will be Ohio’s first Mandarin immersion school and northeast Ohio’s only foreign language immersion school.

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) voted to grant GALA a Preliminary Agreement for sponsorship last February. If GALA receives final approval by CMSD, the school will open next year in August 2015 and enroll students in Kindergarten and first grade. GALA will be tuition-free and open for enrollment to all Ohio residents.

GALA will implement a one-way immersion model that targets a predominantly native-English speaking population. Kindergarten students at GALA will spend their entire day learning through either Mandarin or Spanish. Starting in the first grade, students will spend half of their day in English and the other half of their day in Mandarin or Spanish – learning all subjects.

CMSD currently has one school that offers the International Baccalaureate Program and Mandarin, Campus International. Campus International is also the only District school with a student wait-list. GALA will offer another option to families seeking the International Baccalaureate curriculum, as well as Mandarin and Spanish immersion.

To give families more information about this innovative, new education model, GALA will be holding a round of six Community Information Meetings in the coming weeks. Through these meetings, the public will get a chance to learn more about the school and ask questions.

The following meetings are scheduled:
Wednesday, 9/24 at 5:30pm, Goodrich Gannett Neighborhood Center (St. Clair-Superior / AsiaTown)
Tuesday, 9/30 at 5:30pm, Trinity Commons (Campus District / Downtown / Midtown)
Thursday, 10/2 at 5:30pm, Fairhill Partners (Cleveland Heights / Buckeye / Shaker)
Saturday, 10/4 at 11:00am, Fairhill Partners (Cleveland Heights / Buckeye / Shaker)
Wednesday, 10/8 at 5:30pm, St. Mel Church Parish Hall (Kamms Corners / West Park)
Thursday, 10/9, at 5:30pm, St. John Church Parish Hall (Ohio City)
People can RSVP to attend a meeting at: http://gala-prek8.org/news/

GALA is founded by Meran Rogers and several community leaders serve on its Board. GALA is not affiliated with any other charter school network and is not managed by a for-profit charter management company.

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Contact: Meran Rogers, (804) 503-9179, meran@gala-prek8.org