Denver Public Schools, working to find new ways to reach out to parents and the community, last week renewed its partnership with a Texas-based group that offers free English language lessons to parents via the radio.
“As we try to reach our 80,000 families, we know how important it is to be able to reach out in their home language,” said superintendent Tom Boasberg.
In DPS, of the now close to 80,000 students, more than 30,000 speak a language other than English.
The radio-learning program, Maestro en Casa, was created by Mexicans and Americans Thinking Together foundation.
Lessons air three times a week on MARIA 1090 AM. Students follow along at home using a workbook provided by the program as they delve into six topics including education, finance and health.
The lessons are designed not only to teach the language, but to teach immigrants about the organizational structure of systems such as that of a school board.
Earlier this year, Maestro en Casa graduated its first Denver class. Fewer than 300 showed up to receive their certificates.
This year, program officials hope to register 5,000 parents and community members. To make that happen, DPS and MATT are making the program more convenient.
“Last year, we were giving away one booklet at a time, so parents had to drive in six times during the year to get the books,” said Salvador Carrera, DPS director for multicultural outreach.
This year all books will be provided at the start of the program.
The books will also be available online, and Carrera and his staff will make digital copies for parents, if necessary, he said.
Carrera plans to spend this year raising money to expand the program into a television spot next fall, and working with MATT to create an advanced version of the lessons for program alumni who want to keep learning.
“We want to continue the momentum of all of our programs,” Carrera said. “We know we have to make the link stronger between parents and schools.”
Another program that Carrera manages, Educa, publishes a print newsletter four times a year, and pays for three segments per week on the radio to talk about DPS news and related health or immigration topics.
Soon, the show will become interactive, allowing the hosts of the radio program to take calls from listeners and answer questions.
Yesenia Robles: 303-954-1372 or yrobles@denverpost.com
