In the 2009-2010 school year, the School District of Lancaster (SDoL) will begin its first ever dual-language immersion program (DLIP). The 25-child kindergarten class will roughly consist of half English-speaking and half Spanish-speaking students, and will be taught in both languages (70% Spanish; 30% English). Similar programs have already been implemented throughout the United States and have proven that young children can rapidly gain fluency and confidence in a foreign language within less than 3 years.

In the 2010-2011 school year, these students will continue a similar program for first grade, and the SDoL will introduce yet another DLIP kindergarten class. The program will span into the fifth grade.

The kindergarten class will be taught by a teacher and a “para-educator,” both bilingual. Language arts (grammar), science, and social studies will be taught in Spanish while math and specials will be taught in English. The ratio of English and Spanish teaching will gradually flip, and by fifth grade 70% of classes will be taught in English.

Kim Marucci, SDoL’s Coordinator for Social Studies and World Language, explained that the program is driven by a belief that bilingual thinkers can be more advanced problem solvers, more globally aware, and more culturally sensitive. An article from the Center for Applied Linguistics states that “over three decades of studies consistently show that immersion students achieve as well as or better than non-immersion peers on standardized measures of verbal and mathematics skills administered in English.”

Parents can apply for their children to attend the DLIP until May 29th. Since 50 applications have already been submitted, and more yet are expected, the 25 students will be selected via lottery for enrollment in the program. The DLIP’s kindergarten class will be held in Wharton Elementary on N Mary St.  Parents will be required to provide transportation.

Click here to view the official flier.