Welcome to GALA Cleveland
GALA is a Mandarin and Spanish immersion K-8 school on the west side of Cleveland. GALA is tuition-free, open to all Ohio residents, and no prior language skills are required of students to enroll for students entering Kindergarten or First Grade. GALA’s innovative model provides students with the opportunity to grow up with a bilingual education that will undoubtedly serve them throughout their lives. GALA is the 1st language immersion school in NEO and the only Mandarin immersion school in Ohio.
As a dual language immersion school, GALA will provide instruction of all core subjects (Math, Reading, Science, Social Studies) in two languages: English and a Target Language (Mandarin or Spanish), leading to dual proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
GALA ensures students build the knowledge, skills, and attributes that position them to be competitive in the 21st-century global economy. Excellent schools strengthen our Cleveland community, attract the population back to the region, and develop a workforce that will provide talent for the region’s employers.
In grades K-8, GALA provides daily instruction in all subjects in the target language (Mandarin or Spanish) for 50% of the school day (3 hours) and 50% in English (3 hours). As a public school, GALA’s curriculum is aligned with Ohio’s Common Core.
GALA’s Dual Language Immersion Model
| Grade | Instruction time in Target Language (Mandarin or Spanish) | Instruction time in English |
|---|---|---|
| K-5 | 50% (3 hours) Subjects: Math, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts | 50% (3 hours) Subjects: Social Studies, Language Arts, Specials (Art, Gym, SEL) |
| 6-8 | 50% (3 hours) Subjects: Science, Social Studies, Language Arts | 50% (3 hours) Subjects: Math, Social Studies, Language Arts, Specials (Art, Gym, SEL) |
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GALA Student Assessments |
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| Assessment | Subject | Grades | Description |
| Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) for Primary Grades | Reading, Math | K-8 | Aligned to the Common Core, determines student instructional levels and academic growth over the school year. Benchmark test required in Ohio, given in the Fall, Winter, and Spring. |
| Ohio State Test (OST) Standardized Assessments | ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies | 3-8 | A computer-based, interactive assessment, required by Ohio, to assess how well students are growing in the knowledge and skills outlined in Ohio's Learning Standards. Given in the Fall, Winter, and Spring. |
| American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) “Can-Do” Statements Progress Monitoring | Mandarin, Spanish | K-8 | Assesses interpersonal communications, presentational speaking, presentational writing, interpretive listening, and interpretive reading (low, mid, high in: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, Superior, and Distinguished). Assessed at the end of the year. |