The Tukwila School District has seen its ethnic diversity grow by more than 1.000 percent in the last seven years. Out of the districts 2.500 pupils. 50% are students of color. 20% are enrolled in bilingual education. and all told. they speak about 30 different languages. To meet the challenge of integrating this immigrant population into the school system and the community. the Tukwila School District. the City of Tukwila. and the local Rotary Club created "New Friends & Families." It is a onenight. once a year program designed to engage these hardtoreach immigrant and refugee students and their families to make them aware of community services and to encourage parental involvement in their childrens education. Clearly. when more than 20% of Tukwilas students are unfamiliar with their new surroundings. they face a serious impediment to quality learning. The "New Friends & Families" program has met this challenge head on with local creativity. local initiative. and local resources.
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immigrant refugee