Dual Language

Our Dual Language: Two-Way Immersion program is a unique educational model where students are taught in two languages: English and Spanish. Our program brings together native Spanish speakers and native English speakers to learn together helping one another grow in both English and Spanish.

We are incredibly proud to celebrate the dedication and excellence of our Dual Language teachers! They were recently honored with the prestigious Thank-a-Teacher Award for their commitment to our students and program.
Watch the recognition video here:

Thank a Teacher: Arturo Martinez and Holly Story from Meadow Park Elementary School

Our Mission & Goals
Our program's mission is to create a supportive and engaging environment where every student can thrive academically and linguistically. Our goal is to help students become bilingual and biliterate, achieving high academic proficiency in both English and Spanish while developing positive attitudes toward other languages and cultures. 

Benefits for Students
Participating in our Dual Language program offers significant advantages:

• Academic Achievement: Immersion students often demonstrate increased attention control, better memory, and superior problem-solving skills. Research shows they perform as well as, or better than, non-immersion students on standardized tests.
• Bilingualism and Biliteracy: Students develop a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in both English and Spanish. This prepares them for a global community and a job market where language skills are a valuable asset.
• Multicultural Awareness and Sensitivity: Students develop a deep appreciation for other languages and cultures, promoting positive cross-cultural perspectives and a greater understanding of the world.

Curriculum & Instruction
Our curriculum is designed to align with state and district standards while providing instruction in both English and Spanish. As a 50:50 model, our program guarantees that English and Spanish are each utilized for 50% of instructional time throughout the day.
At Meadow Park Elementary, our specific language allocation is as follows:

• Spanish Language Arts and Science are taught in Spanish.
• English Language Arts and Math are taught in English.

Instruction includes a clear separation of languages to support high levels of language acquisition. Students' bilingualism is leveraged through strategic and intentionally planned cross-linguistic strategies. Our teachers hold certification in their area of instruction and have passed the District's Spanish Language Proficiency Assessment.

Enrollment Information
Our Dual Language program is an in-house program available to students residing within Meadow Park’s boundary. It's an equal access program available to all students living within our zone.  Due to the program's success and high demand from families, we are excited to announce that we have recently increased the number of Dual Language classes in Kindergarten!

Here's what you need to know about the process:

• Eligibility: All students are eligible to apply for kindergarten and first grade.  Applications may be submitted during initial registration.
• For Grades 2 and beyond: Due to the rigorous nature of the program, students entering after first grade must demonstrate proficiency in the language of instruction. This is determined by a fluency exam that the student must pass to be considered for the Choice lottery. A newly arrived English Language Learner (ELL) whose home language is Spanish may enter the program at any grade level, as it serves as their designated ESOL instructional model.

Program Continuity
Our Dual Language program is designed as a continuous pathway that grows with the student. Our students have the opportunity to continue their education at one of 6 middle schools that offer the program, including Conniston Middle School, which is our feeder middle school. Students can continue their biliteracy journey at one of 3 high schools that offer the program, providing a pathway for them to achieve the Seal of Biliteracy.

Assessment & Progress Monitoring
We are committed to monitoring each student's growth in both languages. We use a variety of assessments to measure proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in both languages. Data collection is an ongoing process that helps us celebrate student success and continuously improve our program.

Family Engagement
We encourage and value family engagement. We hold regular meetings to provide resources and support tools to help you support your child's bilingual journey at home.
Upcoming Events: We invite you to join us for our school events that celebrate our diverse community and the achievements of our students:

• Hispanic Heritage Month: We celebrate Hispanic culture with various activities that highlight the traditions, music, and food of Spanish-speaking countries.
• Winter Extravaganza: Our annual Winter Extravaganza is a fun-filled event for the whole family, featuring games, activities, and celebrations to mark the holiday season.
• Parent Training: We invite you to our upcoming parent training session, "Beyond the Basics: How to help your child thrive in the dual language program," on October 14th.

Contact Information
If you have any questions about our Dual Language Program, please contact our program coordinator.

• Program Coordinator: Manuela Dal Piva
• Phone: (561) 357-2800