Key players in the effort include researchers Carl Falsgraf and Amy Harter of the UO's Center for Applied Second Language Studies; David Bong, chairman of Language Learning Solutions; Jen-Jen Hwang- Shum, principal of the private Eugene Chinese School; Helen Liu, a parent and organizer of a recent Chinese language summer camp; David Tam, chairman of the Asian Council and president of the Chinese- American Benevolent Association; and Beth Smith, director of services for Holt International Children's Services' China program.

Tom Henry, the school district's deputy superintendent, said he and other officials think it's "a great idea" and will explore it further. The district has long offered popular elementary, middle and high school immersion programs in Spanish, Japanese and French, most involving immersion for half the school day.

Soon after the grant announcement, the UO center's phone began ringing. 'We were inundated with phone calls from people in the community saying, 'This is in Eugene?', and we were saying, 'No, it's Portland public schools,' and the question was always, 'Why not Eugene?' ' Harter said.