To the Montville Township Board of Education:

We, the undersigned residents, parents, students, and community members of Montville Township, respectfully petition the Board of Education to maintain and strengthen the long-standing Chinese language program in our public schools. This program aligns perfectly with our district's vision to prepare students for "life, learning and work in a global society" and supports our commitment to "respect for diversity" and being "inclusive."

The Chinese program has been an integral part of our district's curriculum for many years, reflecting our community's diversity and commitment to global education. It provides "purposeful and challenging learning experiences" that are responsive to individual differences and interests. We urge you to consider the following points:

Demographic Relevance: Our Asian population has grown from 18.05% in 2010 to 22.1% in recent estimates. With 23.5% of our residents being foreign-born and 28.1% speaking a language other than English at home, our community clearly values multilingual education. One in ten Montville residents self-identified as Chinese American. 

Academic Excellence: Montville Township High School ranks in the top 5% of New Jersey high schools. The Chinese program contributes to this excellence, as research shows that foreign language study improves overall academic performance and cognitive abilities. 

College Readiness: Many top universities prefer or require foreign language credits. The AP Chinese Language and Culture exam, which our students can prepare for, sees high performance rates, enhancing college applications. Of all students who took AP Chinese test, almost everyone passed the exam scores of 3+. 

Economic Importance: New Jersey's exports to China were valued at $2.8 billion in 2023. Since Governor Murphy's visit to East Asia in October 2023, New Jersey has reportedly seen an 845% increase in the number of East Asian companies interested in establishing or expanding their businesses in the state. Proficiency in Chinese provides our students with valuable skills for future careers both locally and globally.

Cultural Resources: Our partnership with the Northern New Jersey Chinese Association, which has promoted Chinese culture and language for over 60 years, provides invaluable support to our program. 

Competitive Edge: New Jersey outperforms all other states in the percentage of students enrolled in world language classes, with more than half of all K-12 students studying a world language. Other top-performing districts in New Jersey offer robust Chinese programs. Maintaining ours ensures we remain competitive in offering diverse educational opportunities.
Eliminating or reducing the Chinese program would be a step backward for our district, potentially impacting our academic standing, student opportunities, and community satisfaction. Cutting the only non-western world language option will hinder students’ ability to engage with different perspectives, diminish their preparedness for a multicultural workforce, and restrict their opportunities for personal and academic growth.

We urge the Board to not only maintain but also consider expanding this valuable program. There are many ways to address a budget shortage, cutting a long-standing academic program certainly should not be the solution. By signing this petition, we express our strong support for the continuation and enhancement of the Chinese language program in Montville Township Public Schools.