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Eugene School District 4J

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Japanese Language Immersion Program Transition

Japanese Language Immersion Program Transition

A unified K-12 future rooted in excellence, care and community voice.  

This webpage will serve as the central hub for information, updates, and resources related to the transition of the Japanese Language Immersion Program (JLIP). It is intended for families, students, staff, and the broader community.

 

NEW! Update on Transition Planning

On September 29, 2025, Superintendent Dr. Miriam Mickelson met with families and community members to share updates on the transition of the Japanese Language Immersion Program (JLIP) for grades 6-12.

Scenarios Reviewed

District staff studied multiple options for the JLIP Secondary Program. After reviewing enrollment, staffing, facilities, financial impacts, and family input, staff recommended Scenario 1: Phased Transition as the best balance of program quality, stability, equity, and sustainability.

Scenario 1: Phased Transition (Recommended)

  • Gradual transition beginning in 2026–27, with full consolidation in the South Eugene region by 2029–30
  • Current JLIP students at Kelly Middle School and North Eugene High School remain at their schools.
  • New cohorts begin at Spencer Butte Middle School and South Eugene High School
  • Includes phased staffing, classroom readiness, curriculum alignment, and student/family supports

Scenario 2: Single-Year Transition

  • All JLIP secondary students move to South Eugene region in 2026–27.
  • Fastest consolidation, but greatest disruption for families and students

Scenario 3: Dual-Region JLIP

  • JLIP continues in both North Eugene and South Eugene regions.
  • Maintains access but creates strain on staffing and resources and risks splitting the JLIP community

Scenario 4: K–8 JLIP

  • JLIP ends after 8th grade; high school students take IB Japanese only
  • Less costly and simpler to staff, but ends the full K–12 immersion pathway and weakens program identity

Next Steps

  • Families are invited to share strengths, concerns and ideas through the online survey, open now through Friday, Oct. 10, 2025.
  • A follow-up community meeting will be held on October 20, 2025, where Superintendent Mickelson will review family input and share next steps. The time and location of the meeting will be shared soon.

Get Involved

  • REVIEW PRESENTATION SLIDES: English | Spanish
  • SHARE YOUR COMMENTS (closes Friday, Oct. 10): English | Spanish
  • APPLY FOR TRANSITION COMMITTEE (see below for more details; closes Friday, Oct. 10): English | Spanish

Transition Committee — Apply Today!

The Japanese Language Immersion Program Secondary Transition Committee will help guide, monitor and provide recommendations during the phased relocation of the JLIP secondary program (grades 6-12) from the North Eugene region to the South Eugene region beginning in 2026-27. Apply now in English and Spanish! 

Committee Facts

  • Membership: The committee will include:
    • a current 5th grade parent or guardian from Yujin Gakuen.
    • a current 6th or 7th grade parent or guardian from Kelly. 
    • a current 8th grade parent from Kelly.
    • a current 9th, 10th or 11th grade parent or guardian from North Eugene.
    • representatives of Spanish-speaking families.
    • parents or guardians of multi-language learners.
    • parents or guardians of special education students with IEPs.

Any current JLIP parents or guardians are welcome to apply to serve on the committee. The superintendent will review all applications, and then will decide on the roster.

  • Purpose: Ensure broad representation, promote transparent communication, identify needs and opportunities, and provide informed recommendations to the superintendent
  • Time Commitment: At least quarterly meetings (more frequently during key decision periods); review materials between meetings
  • Term: Through the 2026–27 school year (with check-ins to extend, as needed)
  • Transparency and Language Access: Meeting agendas, notes and summaries will be posted on this webpage; interpretation provided (Spanish routinely; others upon request).

Dr. Mickelson is committed to reading and personally reviewing every application.

  • The application period opens on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.
  • The application period closes on Friday, October 10, 2025.
  • Committee members will be notified of their selection in the middle of October.
  • The committee will begin meeting in November.

Transition Timeline

  • With the final decision made about where the 6–12 program will live, the 2025–26 school year will serve as a dedicated planning year to ensure a smooth, supported, and student-centered transition.

    • Our planning will be shaped by student voice, staff input, family engagement, and operational realities.
    • The district will not rush this process. Every step will be taken with care, and to preserve the excellence and integrity of the Japanese Language Immersion experience.
    • Dr. Miriam Mickelson, 4J’s superintendent, shared an update on the transition planning on Sept. 29, 2025, informed by feedback gathered this spring and summer.
       

  • The 2026–27 school year is the first year for the Japanese Language Immersion Program (JLIP) transition to begin. The district is recommending that the program gradually move over four years, or through the end of the 2029-30 school year, to ensure currently enrolled students can finish out at the North Eugene region school they’re currently enrolled in before moving south.

  • The elementary portion of the Japanese Language Immersion Program (K–5) will continue to operate at its current location:
    Yujin Gakuen Elementary School, 2855 Lincoln Street, Eugene, OR 97405

    • There will be no changes to the K–5 location or structure as the program’s secondary level (grades 6-12) moves to South Eugene
    • The district remains committed to maintaining stability and continuity for students and families at the elementary level.
    • Ongoing communication with families and staff will ensure continued support, clarity and long-term planning for the program.

  • Planning for the transition of the middle school portion of the JLIP is ongoing, with Superintendent Dr. Miriam Mickelson sharing the following recommendation:

    • Middle school students currently enrolled in the program will remain at Kelly and then move to South Eugene High School after 8th grade
    • Middle school students newly enrolled in the program will attend Spencer Butte starting in the 2026-27 school year
    • YG students will move to Spencer Butte once they begin 6th grade

  • Planning for the transition of the high school portion of the JLIP is ongoing, with Superintendent Dr. Miriam Mickelson sharing the following recommendation:

    • Students currently enrolled in the program at North Eugene High School will finish out their K-12 career there.
    • Students newly enrolled in the program will attend South Eugene starting in the 2026-27 school year.
    • Kelly students will move to South Eugene once they begin 9th grade.
    • Ongoing implementation will focus on academic continuity, student identity and belonging, and alignment with the International High School (IHS) model at South Eugene.

Frequently Asked Questions

Understandably, the Japanese Language Immersion community has questions and concerns about this process. Answers to frequently asked questions will be posted here.

  • No. There are no program changes during the 2025–26 school year.

  • Dr. Miriam Mickelson, 4J’s superintendent, provided an update on the transition planning during a community meeting on Sept. 29, 2025. She will hold a follow-up meeting on Oct. 20, 2025, with a time and location still to be announced. Families associated with the program are encouraged to share their comments by completing and submitting an online survey, available in both English and Spanish. The survey closes Friday, Oct.10, 2025.

  • The transition will occur over three phases:

    • 2025–26: No changes to school placements; this will be a planning year focused on collaborative design and preparation.
    • Spring–Summer 2026: Finalizing logistics, facility adjustments, staffing and communications.
    • 2026–27: Transition to Spencer Butte Middle School and South Eugene High School begins, based on the implementation plan developed with family and staff input.

  • Through surveys, focus groups, and community engagement sessions involving families, staff, and students.

    • Families can reach out to school leaders directly at any time.
    • Questions or suggestions can also be emailed to: japaneseimmersion@4j.lane.edu.
    • Regular updates will be shared via school newsletters, district emails and community forums

  • Superintendent Dr. Miriam Mickelson shared a recommended timeline for the relocation, although it’s important to note that no decision has been finalized. Under the recommendation, which is one of four options being considered, the relocation of the middle and high school portions of the program will begin in the 2026–27 school year and conclude during the 2029-30 school year, when our youngest program students who are in 2nd grade during the current school year move on to Spencer Butte Middle School.
     

  • Students and families enrolled in the Japanese Language Immersion Program in 2024-25 who want to stay at Kelly Middle School or North Eugene High School in the regular (non-language-immersion) academic programs can do so.

  • No. Students currently enrolled in Kelly Middle School or North Eugene High School will not need to apply through school choice to remain and complete their education—even if they choose not to continue in the Japanese Language Immersion Program. Students may stay as part of the general school community and do not need to transfer or opt in through a separate process.

Superintendent's Decision and Project Reports

The superintendent's decision on the permanent, future locations of the Japanese Language Immersion Program was the result of extensive engagement with the school program community, including meetings and surveys with students, families, staff, alumni and community members.

  • Japanese Language Immersion Program Transition Timeline: Phased Plan for a Unified K-12 Program
    The timeline outlines Eugene School District 4J’s phased plan to transition the secondary Japanese Language Immersion Program to Spencer Butte Middle School and South Eugene High School by Fall 2026. The report details key milestones, accountability measures, and strategies to ensure a smooth, inclusive, and student-centered implementation process—grounded in community voice and operational readiness.
  • Community Reflections on the Japanese Language Immersion Program (April 2025)
    This report summarizes input from more than 500 students, families, staff, alumni, and community members who shared their hopes, concerns, and priorities for the future of the Japanese Language Immersion Program (JLIP). The findings shaped the Superintendent’s announcement on April 30, 2025, and offer a blueprint for a stable, equitable, and student-centered path forward.
  • Japanese Language Immersion Program Transition Report (April-May 2025)
    This report summarizes powerful insights from families, students, educators, and community members following the Superintendent’s decision to relocate the Japanese Language Immersion Program (grades 6–12) to the South Region beginning in 2026–27. The feedback, gathered through a multilingual survey open from April 30 to May 7, 2025, outlines what is most needed to ensure a smooth, student-centered, and equitable transition for all.

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