WHAT IS HAPPENING?

Palisades Charter High School administration is discontinuing its Italian language program due to temporary enrollment declines following the devastating 2025 Palisades fires, which caused widespread student displacement.

This decision would remove an important academic and cultural opportunity from current and future students at Palisades Charter High School. Both French and Italian programs are at risk of being discontinued.

For years, the Italian program has been a valued part of the school community, serving more than 150 students and offering a unique pathway into language learning, global culture, history, literature, art, and communication skills. Programs like these are essential to a well-rounded public education and help students develop cultural awareness, critical thinking, and global perspective.

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO ACT NOW?

1. The current enrollment situation does not reflect a lack of student interest. Many families are still navigating extraordinary circumstances, and hundreds of incoming students have not yet completed course selection. Eliminating the first year Italian class now would mean making an irreversible decision before students have even had the opportunity to choose Italian.
2. Once a language program is cut, rebuilding it is extremely difficult. The loss would affect not only current students, but generations of future students who may never again have access to Italian language education at Palisades Charter High School.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Please sign this petition to help protect language education and keep Italian at Palisades Charter High School. 

By signing your petition, we ask the administrators of Palisades Charter High School to preserve the Italian program and postpone any decision until enrollment has fully stabilized and all students have had the opportunity to select their courses.

READY TO DO MORE?

Write directly to the administrators:

• WLD Department Chair: Ms Maggie Nance, mnance@palihigh.org 
• Pali High School Principal: Dr. Pamela Magee, pmagee@palihigh.org 
• Director of Counseling and WLD admin: Ms. Amie Whiteley, awhiteley@palihigh.org
• Director of Academic Achievement: Ms. Diana Kim, dkim@palihigh.org

You can use the sample email here:

    Dear Administrators,
I am writing to express my support for preserving the Italian language program at Palisades Charter High School.
In a moment already marked by extraordinary disruption for students and families, eliminating language programs would represent a serious loss for global education, cultural literacy, and academic opportunity.
I encourage the school to preserve the Italian program and continue supporting language education as an essential part of students’ academic and cultural formation.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,

 

TAKE THE MESSAGE FORWARD!

Spread the word. Share it on social media. Share it among your students, colleague, friends. 

 

GRAZIE DI CUORE!

 

Dr. Teresiana Matarrese, Advocacy Committee

AATI- CAL (American Association Teachers of Italian - California Chapter)