robert runcie_web.jpgDAVIE — The Broward County Public School District (BCPS) will hold its Annual Bilingual Parents Institute on Saturday, Feb. 23 from 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at The Signature Grand, 6900 State Rd. 84, Davie.

The free program is presented by the ESOL Department (English for Speakers of Other Languages), and is open to bilingual parents of students in grades 6 through 12 to prepare their child for success in high school and college education.

Space is limited and registration is required. Lunch will be served and there will be lots of prizes for attendees. For additional information and registration, contact the ESOL Department at 754-321-2951 or visit the department’s website, esol.browardschools.com

The theme for this year’s institute is Unlock Your Future. School Board Chair Laurie Rich Levinson (District 6) will open the conference with a welcome for the more than 300 parents expected to attend.

Broward Schools Superintendent Robert W. Runcie will address parents on the importance of their role in preparing their children for a successful high school and college education.

The annual conference is dedicated to presenting topics related to bilingual parents and students. This year’s event will feature workshops in English and Spanish with concurrent translation in Haitian Creole and Portuguese.

Workshop topics will include Preparing Your Student for College/University and Technical Careers; College Entrance Requirements/Exams; Selecting and Paying for College; Barriers to Success: Peer Pressure and New Social Media; and Internet Resources.

In direct alignment with the district’s recently unveiled Three-Year Strategic Plan, the ESOL Department is expanding its outreach to assist parents in becoming partners in their children’s education and preparing them for the college or career paths of their choice.

The district continues to grow larger and more diverse, welcoming and providing English language acquisition and rigorous academics to more than 34,000 students from 170 different countries who speak over 54 different languages.