The Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA)
Provides a wealth of information on immersion programs (www.carla.umn.edu). CARLA has an excellent FAQ section addressing questions parents often have regarding immersion programs.
The Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL)
Provides a wealth of information about language acquisition programs across the US (www.cal.org). One of their offerings is a digest of information on raising children in a bilingual home. Primarily focused on Spanish, this is also a good resource for Mandarin speaking families eager to maintain and develop Mandarin in their children:
Raising Bilingual Children: Common Parental Concerns and Current Research
This digest, now available in English or Spanish, helps heritage language classroom teachers, and other professionals who work with bilingual children and their parents, address common parental concerns about their children’s language development and become familiar with the research on this topic.
CAIS Institute
Drawing on the learning from the first Mandarin immersion program in the US, now more than twenty-five years old (called the Chinese American International School, ie: CAIS), CAIS serves as a point of information for similar programs and those considering such programs. Great information for teachers, students & families, and community organizations.
Hao Mama
An excellent site on raising children in Mandarin and English, Hao Mama also provides a weekly newsletter containing relevant information regarding current programs, curriculum resources, computer/internet resources, and other supports for learning. For the newsletter, see the subscribe information on the home page at the top of the left column. Hao Mama also addresses debates within Mandarin programs (traditional or simplified, what can happen if not enough time is offered in Mandarin—including what happens when a program ‘goes bad’ by not articulating curriculum across schools and grade levels).
Mandarin Immersion Parents Council (MIPC)
Is composed of parents in the San Francisco Bay area whose children are (or were for those who have graduated) participating in Mandarin immersion program, of which there are many in the area. Contains many recommendations for parents for supporting students currently in programs and a great FAQ section.
Cupertino Language Immersion Program (CLIP)
A school focused on Mandarin immersion, the CLIP site provides an overview of the staff, program goals, organization plan, history and even a video clip.
José Ortega Elementary School
Ortega is a San Francisco elementary school with an active and vibrant Mandarin dual immersion program. Dual immersion means about half the students speak Mandarin (or Cantonese) at home and the other half speaks English (or sometimes another language) and both groups learn Mandarin and English. In dual immersion programs, there is generally more English than in full immersion programs—hence the reliance on a balance of language groups.
Oregon Mandarin Flagship Program
Woodstock Elementary was the original school, and often is held up as an example of an excellent Mandarin immersion program set in an urban, diverse community. The program is now K-12 and is well articulated across the grades. This site provides excellent information and even video clips of Mandarin immersion instruction.
Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School
Opened in 2007, PVCICS is a full immersion charter school that began with kindergarten and first grade and is adding a grade a year until it reaches its full K-8 model. The site provides extensive information on the school design, schedule, and curriculum.