Updated September 15, 2025
Spanish Bilingual - What We Heard
In Spring 2025, Edmonton Catholic Schools invited students, staff, and families with children currently enrolled in the Spanish Bilingual program to complete a Division-wide questionnaire. The goal was to better understand why families choose Spanish Bilingual, their experiences in the program, and how we can further support student success.
The Spanish Bilingual program supports students in developing strong communication skills and academic success in both Spanish and English, while also nurturing their first language.
Established in 2003, the program is now available from Kindergarten through Grade 12 at seven school locations across the Division.
We are grateful for a strong response to the questionnaire:
- 69% of Grade 7, 8, and 9 students
- 22% of parents and guardians
- 80% of staff
Whether you participated or not, we invite you to explore the key themes and next steps outlined below.
Themes
Four major themes emerged from the engagement:
- Program pathways and locations
- Transportation
- Program experience
- Cultural experiences
Recommendations
Based on these insights, the following recommendations were made:
- Review program pathways and locations to match areas of demand
- Reduce travel times for families
- Develop more Spanish-related options for students in junior/senior high
- Provide support for Spanish-language learners
- Increase timetable flexibility for students in junior/senior high
- Offer more field trip opportunities and exposure to broader Hispanic cultures
Next Steps
A detailed implementation and monitoring plan will be developed to address the themes identified.
The following infographic provides a summary of key information gathered through our engagement with the ECSD Spanish Bilingual community. To view the infographic in a larger format or download it, click the image to open the PDF version.
If you have any questions, please email engagement@ecsd.net.
Spanish Bilingual Engagement – How We Got Here
Background
Edmonton Catholic Schools regularly reviews its programs to identify opportunities for growth and improvement. As part of this process, families, students, and staff involved in the Spanish Bilingual program were invited to participate in an engagement.
Feedback was collected through questionnaires completed by parents and guardians, students, and staff. The purpose of this engagement was to better understand what is working well in the Spanish Bilingual program, where improvements may be needed, and why families choose this program for their children.
All responses were kept confidential and reviewed to identify key themes. These insights will help guide future updates to the program and ensure it continues to reflect the needs of students, families, and schools.
Timeline
Have Your Say
Student, Family, and Staff Questionnaires
April 14 – April 28, 2025
What We Heard
Summary of key information shared with the Spanish Bilingual community
September 11, 2025
Implementation and Monitoring
Begins January 2026 and continues ongoing