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Elementary Emergent Bilingual Programs
At our elementary schools, we offer one-way and two-way dual language programs and English as a Second Language (ESL).
Choosing the right language program for your elementary student is an important step in their education. Our district offers programs to support emergent bilingual students—those who are learning English while continuing to develop their home language.
Through Dual Language Immersion (DLI) and English as a Second Language (ESL) programs, students build strong language skills while learning core subjects. These programs help students become bilingual, biliterate, and academically successful.
On this page
Eligibility and enrollment
As part of the enrollment process, families are asked to complete a Home Language Survey. If your student’s home language is a language other than English, a language test will be conducted at Student Services.
Students whose first language is not English will finalize their enrollment process through the Manuel & Maria Valle Student Services Center rather than directly at a campus. This process ensures that proper language testing and support services are provided.
Based on the results of the language test, a student may be identified as an emergent bilingual student. Elementary emergent bilingual students will be offered participation in one of the following programs based on their home language. See the chart of programs available by home language and then keep reading below to learn more about the different program offerings.
| Type | Program | Home Language |
|---|---|---|
| DLI | One-Way Dual Language Spanish (Bilingual Spanish) | Spanish |
| DLI | One-Way Dual Language Vietnamese (Bilingual Vietnamese) | Vietnamese |
| DLI | Two-Way Dual Language Spanish (must be accepted to the Dual Language magnet program) | Spanish, English |
| ESL | English as a Second Language (ESL) | Language other than English (not Spanish or Vietnamese) |
Participating schools
Not all programs are available at all schools.
Elementary Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs
A Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program is a way of teaching where students learn school subjects and build reading and writing skills in two languages. DLI programs help students become bilingual (able to speak and understand two languages) and biliterate (able to read and write in both languages). Research demonstrates that emergent bilinguals in successful DLI programs have better long-term educational outcomes than their peers not enrolled in such programs. DLI is consistently identified as the most effective program model for improving academic achievement for these students (Thomas & Collier, 2009).
Benefits:
- Students become bilingual and biliterate.
- Students are able to maintain strong connections with family and friends, leading to fewer behavioral issues and, over time, greater social and academic success.
- Dual language programs also offer students the opportunity to take pride in their connection to two cultures and languages.
- Additionally, bilingualism opens up greater career opportunities in fields such as healthcare, education, business, communications, technology, and law.
One-Way Dual Language Spanish
Students start with 80% of their lessons in Spanish and slowly add more English as they move through the lower grades. From 2nd to 5th grade, instruction is evenly split—50% in English and 50% in Spanish. Throughout the curriculum, special lessons help students make connections between both languages, building their skills in speaking, reading, and writing in both English and Spanish.
This program is available at 37 elementary campuses for Pre-K through 5th grade.
Two-Way Dual
Language Spanish
This program is only offered at Vial Classical Center for grades K-5.
The percentage of time spent in each language is the same as in the one-way dual language model. The difference in this program is the students participating. Half of the students are native Spanish speakers and the other half are native English speakers. This model allows bilingualism and biliteracy opportunities for native English speakers, bringing diversity and enrichment to the program.
Participating students must qualify through the Magnet office and meet entry criteria. See the Magnet Dual Language program page for more information.
One-Way Dual Language Vietnamese
Students learn both English and Vietnamese language arts starting in Pre-K. Math, science, and social studies are also taught in both languages. Additionally, lessons connecting the two languages are included throughout the curriculum to support students in developing bilingualism and biliteracy.
This program is available at the following campuses:
- Parsons PreK (PreK only)
- Hickman (PreK-5)
- Lister (K-5)
Elementary English as a Second Language (ESL)
The English as a Second Language (ESL) program is integrated into regular classrooms to support emergent bilingual students. Using Content-Based Language Instruction, certified ESL teachers help students build English proficiency while learning subjects like English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Teachers use specialized strategies and adjust lessons to make sure all students understand the material as they develop academic language skills.
Benefits:
- Students in ESL programs receive additional support to ensure they are growing in their English language proficiency.
- ESL programs serve students from a wide range of language backgrounds and provide support tailored to their needs.
- Students gain a broader understanding of global perspectives, traditions, and experiences.
Discover more about Emergent Bilingual programs and services
Contact us
For more information, contact: