Round Rock ISD trustees approve course for students new to US

Round Rock ISD students who are new to the U.S. will soon be able to take a course supporting their cultural adjustment, after trustees approved its creation March 21.

What you need to know

RRISD administrators proposed a new course intended to support students who are newcomers to the U.S., per a meeting agenda for an upcoming school board meeting.

District documents show the course, Multilingual Acculturation Studies for Newcomer Students, will assist with the acculturation of students new to the country. Acculturation describes the social and cultural changes experienced by immigrants when exposed to new environments and interactions with a new cultural group, according to the district.

The course was considered as part of the board's consent agenda, which was approved 6-0-1, with Place 7 Trustee Danielle Weston abstaining.

The details

Per district documents, the new course will:

• Help facilitate academic success for students learning a new culture and language
• Offer cultural and social support
• Foster increased community engagement and academic achievement
• Teach students how to navigate the school environment

In taking the course, students would explore a blending of their home and new countries' cultures, district documents show. It would be recommended for high school students, who would receive an elective credit upon completion.