DUAL Language

Schoolwide Dual Language Magnet Program
Mural of colorful pueblo-style houses in mountains and a train on a train track bridgeDavis uses a Spanish-English dual language immersion model throughout the school. At Davis all students are Dual Language Students. The goals of this program are:

1. Academic Achievement
2. Bilingualism and biliteracy
3. Positive cross-cultural attitudes

Kinder and First Grade 90% Spanish / 10% English
Second Grade 80% Spanish / 20% English
Third Grade  70% Spanish/ 30% English
Fourth Grade 60% Spanish/ 40% English
Fifth Grade 50% Spanish / 50% English

Results: Nearly all fifth graders are proficient in reading, writing, and speaking Spanish and English. Students’ academic achievement, as measured by standardized tests (in English), matches or exceeds district and national averages.
Useful Links
Dual Language Education Scoop It! page
Features current news from all over the U.S. regarding dual language programs – look for a few Davis videos!
Benefits of Dual Language Educational Programming (in PDF)
From the Massachusetts Association for Bilingual Education
Standards for Foreign Language Learning (in PDF)
From the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
“Why Bilinguals Are Smarter”
An article from NY Times
Dual Language Questions and Answers (in PDF)
What Does the Research Say?
Biliteracy Development (in DOC)