Dual Language Program

Dual Language Application for 2010-11 - English
Dual Language Application for 2010-11 - Spanish

Dual Language Parent Meeting Presentation - February 3, 2010

Philosophy Statement
 
In preparation for becoming community contributors within a global society, District 203 supports Dual Language Learners as they develop and maintain social, cultural and academic competence in two languages. Through delivery of the District 203 standards-based curriculum, the Dual Language Program promotes high academic achievement, language acquisition and proficiency in both English and Spanish. The Dual Language Program provides an environment that embraces diversity and strives for excellence.

Why the Two-Way Dual Language Model?

Research studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of Two-Way Dual Language Programs in educating both dominant English students and English Language Learners and developing biliterate, academic, and cross-cultural competency for the global market (Lindholm-Leary, 2001; Thomas and Collier, 2002). Thomas and Collier found that English Language Learners who participated in Dual Language education outperformed comparable monolingual schooled students in academic achievement after four to seven years in the program (Soltero, 2004).

Program Description

Dual Language is defined as “an educational program that emphasizes challenging standards in the core curriculum domains while enriching students’ development in both their first and second language. These programs aim for full proficiency in two languages, an understanding and appreciation of the cultures associated with those languages and high levels of achievement in all core academic domains" (Cloud, Genesee and Hamayan 2000).

Dual language classrooms develop bilingual and bi-literate students who are able to achieve high academic achievement in two languages and develop an understanding and respect of other cultures. Students will be expected to participate in this program for a minimum of six years. During their education within this program, students will be interacting socially and academically in Spanish as well as English to develop both social and academic proficiency in both languages.

District 203 offers opportunities to participate in the dual language program at both Beebe Elementary and Maplebrook Elementary schools. Classrooms in the Dual Language Program are comprised of approximately half of the students being dominant in Spanish and the other half of the students being dominant in English. Once the students begin in the Dual Language program, they will continue to move through grade levels with the same group of students through Fifth grade (as per the implementation timeline below). In each classroom, the English-dominant students receive initial literacy in English while Spanish-dominant students receive initial literacy in Spanish. Other curricular areas are taught using Spanish (curriculum areas will vary from year to year). All students are taught using the curriculum designed by Naperville School District 203 which is aligned to the Illinois learning standards.

Students who live within the Beebe Elementary attendance area will attend Beebe Elementary School.  Students living within the attendance areas for all other District 203 elementary schools will attend Maplebrook Elementary School. A lottery will be conducted for acceptance at both sites should the number of interested parties exceed the number of openings. Siblings of currently enrolled Dual Language students will be given priority in the future for acceptance into the program. 

For additional information regarding the Dual Language Program in District 203, please contact our Dual Language Coordinator, Julie Knight at (630) 579-7130 or jknight@naperville203.org.

Implementation Timeline

2007 - 2008	Administrative professional development and planning, beginning of teacher professional development, attendance at the CABE conference, hiring of Dual Language Coordinator, additional resources purchased, curriculum integration and future planning continued.
	Beebe Elementary	Maplebrook Elementary
2008 - 2009	Kindergarten Class - Spanish 80%/English 20% 1st Grade Class - Spanish 80%/English 20%	Kindergarten Class - Spanish 80%/English 20% 1st Grade Class - Spanish 80%/English 20%
2009 - 2010 (Continuation of classes from previous year with the following additions)	2nd Grade Class - Spanish 70%/English 30%	2nd Grade Class - Spanish 70%/English 30%
2010 - 2011 (Continuation of classes from previous year with the following additions)	3rd Grade Class - Spanish 60%/English 40%	3rd Grade Class - Spanish 60%/English 40%
2011 -2012 (Continuation of classes from previous year with the following additions)	4th Grade Class - Spanish 50%/English 50%	4th Grade Class - Spanish 50%/English 50%
2012 - 2013 (Continuation of classes from previous year with the following additions)	5th Grade Class - Spanish 50%/English 50%	5th Grade Class - Spanish 50%/English 50%

 Resources

• Dual Language; Teaching and Learning in Two Languages by Sonia Soltero
• Dual Language Instruction; A Handbook for Enriched Education by Nancy Cloud, Fred Genesse and Else Hamayan
• Center for Applied Linguistics -  http://www.cal.org/
• Colorin/Colorado -  http://www.colorincolorado.org/