All students enrolled in the Fremont Unified School District are eligible to apply for the the Mandarin Immersion Program. Our Mandarin Immersion Program seeks to maintain a balanced enrollment of English-only and English learner students to support a rich, collaborative language-learning environment. If applications exceed available space at any grade level, a waitlist is established. Applications are available through Student Support Services at the district office.

To help students thrive in the Immersion Program, families are encouraged to support continued development of language and literacy skills at home. Students may continue in the program from transitional kindergarten (TK) up to 8th grade in middle school.

Students that enroll in Mandarin Immersion Program during transitional kindergarten (TK), kindergarten, and 1st grade do not need to take a language assessment.

Students that newly enroll in Mandarin Immersian Program during 2nd grade and onward must take a language assessment. Students must demonstrate grade-level proficiency in both English and Chinese (Mandarin) to be successful in the program.

The district requires a copy of the student's English language arts grades and work samples, as well as other documentation demonstrating that the student has proficiency in English and Chinese (Mandarin). The language assessment assesses language skill level for Chinese (Mandarin).

The enrollment procedure entails:

1. Parent completes the Immersion Application form and turns it into Student Support Services.

2. Student Support Services provides Program Manager with the student information.

3. Federal & State Program Manager contacts the family to determine eligibility.

4. English proficiency is verified through state and local assessments. If the student meets the eligibility criteria, an assessment is scheduled.

5. Students are tested at the district office using a computer adaptive assessment, and handwritten paragraph.

6. Federal and State Program Manager informs the parents of the results.

7. If the child is accepted into the program, Student Support Services, and the school are notified.

8. Student Support Services contacts the parents with the start date and school details.

Students that newly enroll in Mandarin Immersion Program during 6th, 7th, and 8th grade must follow the enrollment procedure outlined above.

Students who are complete 5th grade in the Mandarin Immersion Program have the option to continue their enrollment in 6th grade at Williams Hopkins Middle School. If their home school is not Williams Hopkins Middle School, these students also have the option to opt out and return to their home school.

Students who complete 8th grade in the Mandarin Immersion Program have the option to continue their Chinese (Mandarin) language enrichment in 9th grade at Mission San Jose High School. If their home school is not Mission San Jose High School, these students also have the option to opt out and return to their home school.