Teaching and Learning Report

To: Michael Green

From: Asha Riley

Date: April 18, 2018

Re: Teaching and Learning

 

Dual Language Immersion Program Update

Over the past several weeks, Ingrid, WPS staff, and I have worked together to define the key program elements outlined below.

Choice Program:

This program is open to students of different backgrounds and abilities from the Woodland Public Schools community. Our dual language program is a program of choice that serves both English and Spanish learners. Enrollment is optional. English-only classrooms are also a continued excellent choice for instruction.

Cohort Size:

In order to ensure students are able to participate fully in the benefits of the program, continued enrollment is critical. To sustain the programs into upper grades, it is important to begin with a large enough cohort. The program will start with two classrooms beginning with Kindergarten only in the 2018-19 school year. Each consecutive year, the program will advance one additional grade level.

Balanced Classes:

The program will include approximately equal numbers of native English speaking students and native Spanish speaking students. There may also be students who have proficiency in both languages at the time of enrollment.

50/50 Language Model:

The program develops language and literacy skills in both Spanish and English through a 50/50 language literacy model.  In this model, students become bilingual and biliterate without sacrificing their native language or academic development. Dual language programs teach grade-level core content, language, skills, and knowledge. During a typical school day, one half of the instruction is delivered in Spanish and one half is delivered in English. Students learn to read, write, and speak in English and Spanish beginning in Kindergarten.  Music, art, physical education, and technology is taught in English. Core subjects such as reading, writing, social studies, and science are taught in both English and Spanish. Mathematics instruction will be in English only. 

Enrollment:

Interested families must complete and submit an application form for each child. In-district applicants will be given first priority for admission, followed by out-of-district transfer requests.

A lottery drawing to determine the order of placement into the program will be held to assign students to the program when number of applicants exceeds program capacity.  Students not selected for placement through the lottery will be placed on a wait-list and will be added to the program as space permits.  The wait-list will not carry over from year-to-year.

Once students are admitted to the program, they will retain the rights for continued placement in the program from year-to-year.