Dual Language Program

What is a dual language program?

Dual Language education is an effective approach to developing language proficiency and literacy in English and a partner language. In District 96, we are implementing a Spanish/English Dual Language program. Approximately 50 percent of the students in the classes will come from homes in which Spanish is spoken and approximately 50 percent of the class will have little to no experience with the Spanish language. All participating students will be receiving instruction in Spanish and English. Fifty percent of the academic day will be delivered in Spanish and 50 percent of the academic day will be delivered in English. That model will remain the same for grades KDG through 5. (In another FAQ, we discuss what middle school options potentially could look like in the future.)

Kindergarten is housed at Willow Grove Early Learning Center, 777 Checker Drive, Buffalo Grove.

Grades 1-5 are housed at Country Meadows Elementary School, 6360 Gilmer Road, Long Grove.

Grades 6-8 are housed at Woodlawn Middle School, 6362 Gilmer Road, Long Grove.

We will open two new dual langauge kindergarten classes each school year. For the two classrooms, one of the teachers will be Spanish-speaking and the other will be English-speaking. The teachers will change classes — thus switching the language of instruction — halfway through the day. The class size will be very close to our current kindergarten sections.

At the kindergarten level, each dual language student would participate in approximately 90 minutes of academic instruction in English and 90 minutes of academic instruction in Spanish. The intervention block — Playful Learning, which is also experienced at the kindergarten level — is designated to be hosted in either language, so the team of teachers would be expected to identify the interventions or extensions that Dual Language students might need in either language and flexibly mix those students between the two classes to meet each student’s academic growth needs.

The intervention/Playful Learning block is not designated to one language, but the expectation is that the co-teachers will use that time flexibly to attend to the needs of all the students. Because the length of the school day increases in Grade 1 and above, academic instructional time will increase, as well. Students in Grades 1–5 will then receive 120 minutes of instruction in Spanish and 120 minutes of instruction in English.  

If families are interested in the Spanish/English Dual Language Program Lottery, they must indicate so during the virtual registration process starting every March. Please make note of the deadline associated with it. The lottery will be hosted virtually in May. It's an opportunity to learn more about the Dual Language Program ahead of the lottery.

Should a spot become available in the Kindergarten Dual Language Program, students placed on the waiting list are eligible for enrollment in the program during their kindergarten year.  Beginning in 1st grade, any students with Spanish language experience may enter the program beyond kindergarten if they demonstrate the language skills needed and space allows.  A student who moves into the district and was previously enrolled in an equivalent program will be allowed to enter the program if space allows.

*If needed because more than 18 students express interest via the form, students with Spanish language experience are assessed with a language proficiency tool.  If their skills indicate they qualify for language services, they will be entered into the Spanish Experience Lottery.  If their skills do not require language services, they will be entered into either the Host School or District-Wide Lottery.

**The number of open slots may change from school year to school year, based on District enrollment. The value represented is true of the current lottery year. 

Please note that indicating interest in the Dual Language Program during the registration process does not guarantee acceptance into the Dual Language program.  Students are selected for the program using a lottery based system. Information about the lottery will be sent to parents who have indicated interest in the Dual Language Program through the registration process.

Student Selection

• All district students who have Spanish language experience in the home will be entered in the Spanish Experience Lottery (18 students**).
• To determine which non-Spanish speaking students are selected for the program, there will be two lotteries: a Host-School Lottery and a District-Wide Lottery.
• Host school (Country Meadows) students will be selected through a Host School Lottery (10 students**). Host school students who are not selected will be placed on a Host School Waiting List based on the order in which their names were drawn in the Host School Lottery.
• District-wide students (who are not from the host school) will be entered into a District-Wide Lottery (10 students**). District-wide students who are not selected will be placed on a District-Wide Waiting List based on the order in which their names were drawn in the District-Wide Lottery.

Preferences

Within each of the lotteries, preference is given based on the following:

• If one twin (or other multiple) is selected, the other(s) is (are) automatically accepted into the program, provided there is room.
• Students who have siblings in the program are accepted, provided there is room in the program. (If there is not sufficient space for all siblings, a sibling lottery will be held.)

Absolutely!  We would not discriminate against any student having the ability of potentially participating in this program.

We will host a lottery to allow students from across the District access to this program.
Lottery details can be found listed later in this FAQ.

Will transportation be provided for Dual Language students?

All Willow Grove students have free bus transportation. This will apply for Dual Language program participants, as well.

For 1st-8th grades, we plan to offer transportation to families interested in being part of the lottery and potentially part of the Dual Language program. We do not want to limit the possibilities of students participating, based on parents’ schedules or their ability to get their student to school.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Transportation times will vary, based on where in the District a student lives.

While the specifics for our middle school model are still being developed, we do know that middle school Dual Language students will participate in a Spanish Language Arts course as well as additional instruction in another subject area. The goal is to maintain — as closely as possible—the level of 120 daily minutes of instruction in Spanish that the students will receive at the elementary level.

Collaboration around Dual Language program development is ongoing with Stevenson staff. They are enthusiastic about the potential to receive District 96 Dual Language students. In Illinois, we afford a Seal of Biliteracy on student diplomas that demonstrates the student’s proficiency in English and a language other than English, as well as meeting specific academic criteria. The Dual Language program is one means to increase the number of students who could receive a Seal of Biliteracy. Additionally, SHS is committed to creating and maintaining multilingual learners who are well-equipped to compete in the global marketplace.