Austin kids might have to wait until they enter middle school to take Spanish class.

This could be the case for Austin Public Schools’ students if the school board passes the integration budget Monday.

The proposed budget calls for Austin Public Schools to nix all Spanish classes taught to kindergartners through fifth-graders next fall. In lieu, resources would be condensed into after-school programming, and Ellis Middle School’s Spanish program, where all sixth- through eighth-graders would be required to take the language.

The possible closure of the K-5 courses and development of the middle school program reflects new legislative mandates for integration funding, said Kristi Beckman, integration coordinator.

The school district has been allocated $588,454 in integration funding for the 2010-2011 school year, and legislation requires those dollars be “used for students to have increased and sustained interracial contacts and improved educational opportunities and outcomes designed to close the academic achievement gap between white students and protected students,” according to statute.

Protected students are those that identify as belonging to various racial distinctions.

“We just could not justify spending half of our budget on Spanish classes in light of the legislative intent of the funds,” Beckman said.

Spanish has been taught in K-5 buildings for the past three years, and this was the first year it was offered in sixth grade. Spanish was scheduled to expand into the seventh grade next year.

The district did not actually have an adequate teaching staff to provide Spanish for all elementary students this year because of staffing difficulties, said director of educational services, John Alberts.

Another teacher would need to be hired to teach Spanish at Ellis next year.

“We decided to offer it only in middle school rather than only in elementary school to keep it in sequence with the high school program,” Alberts said.

If the budget passes, the district will instead spend integration resources on increased success coach hours, after-school programming and bussing students home from these activities.

Currently, students who qualify for extra academic services are offered after-school help and transportation home twice a week. The new budget would provide programming — including homework help, education enrichment, and potentially Spanish clubs — for all interested students, with late busses running Monday through Thursday, Alberts said.

The proposal includes almost $226,000 budgeted for eight success coaches, interpreters who serve as resources for non-English speaking parents, as well as encourage student achievement; $80,000 for Spanish teachers; almost $64,000 for benefits; and $1000 for transportation.

If the budget passes, there will be one success coach in each elementary building for 35 hours a week; and in Ellis Middle School and Austin High School for 40 hours a week. Currently, coaches put in 25-30 hours at each building.

“We had to change our focus to closing the achievement gap,” Beckman said. “Ideally, we would support Spanish in K-8 as well, but right now that is not consistent with the funding or legislation.”

Minnesota was recently turned down in its initial application for up to $250 million of federal Race to the Top grants. Among shortcomings, federal reviewers faulted Minnesota for not narrowing the gap in performance between white and nonwhite students.

Upon school board approval, the budget will be sent to the Minnesota Department of Education for approval and funding. The State of Minnesota does not require that a school district offer a second language.

The school board meets Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the city council chambers.