Building Cultural Bridges
We recognize the complex and diverse needs of a growing and changing population possessing various values, backgrounds, and preparations pose unique challenges for educators, business leaders, and policymakers in the United States. The Dual Language Immersion Program provides unique teaching and learning opportunities for all its participants: students, parents, teachers, administrators, and communities. Dual Language Immersion education serves as a linguistic and cultural bridge for all, and it helps to embrace and promote linguistic and cultural pluralism inside and outside the school. We are committed to supporting our schools in offering Dual Language Immersion Programs to prepare our future citizens with the necessary academic and linguistic competencies to be highly qualified and competitive globally.
What is the Dual Language Immersion Program?
The Dual Language Immersion Program is a language-oriented program designed to build fluency in Spanish and English. Native Spanish and English-speaking children can develop their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in both languages. With more than 2,000 students, our program is one of the fastest-growing in the district. What do parents say about the program? Find out in this brief video in English and Spanish.
CVLCC was the first school to open a Dual Language Immersion Program as part of its charter in 1998, but our first district school was Heritage Elementary. The 90/10 program started at Heritage in 2001 and began with kindergarten, first, and second. Since then, we have continued to grow, and with each new school we open, our parents overwhelmingly request Dual Language Immersion. We have a history of over 22 years of establishing and growing our Dual Language Immersion Programs, and we are very proud to be able to offer this program to our families.
There are 23 schools offering the Dual Language Immersion Program.
- Arroyo Vista Charter
- Camarena (Enrique) Elementary
- Chula Vista Learning Community Charter (Schoolwide)
- Clear View Elementary
- Discovery Charter
- Eastlake Elementary
- Feaster Charter
- Harborside Elementary
- Hedenkamp (Anne & William) Elementary
- Heritage Elementary
- Jeffers (Fahari L.) Elementary
- Lauderbach (J. Calvin) Elementary
- Liberty Elementary
- Loma Verde Elementary
- Los Altos Elementary
- Muraoka (Saburo) Elementary
- Rice (Lillian J.) Elementary
- Salt Creek Elementary
- Silver Wing Elementary
- Tiffany (Burton C.) Elementary
- Valle Lindo Elementary
- Valley Vista Elementary
- Veterans Elementary
Students develop oral, reading, and writing proficiency in two languages.
What are the Goals of Dual Language Education?
The overarching goals of our Dual Language Immersion Program follow the three pillars of Dual Language Education:
- Bilingualism and biliteracy.
- High academic achievement.
- Socio-cultural competency.
Results from Dual Language Immersion Program
Recent studies indicate that this Dual Language Immersion model is one of the most successful programs in teaching a second language. This program allows English-speaking students to become bilingual and biliterate in English and Spanish. English-speaking students acquire Spanish without risk to their academic achievement and English proficiency. Spanish-speaking students acquire English while maintaining their primary language, thereby allowing for higher English language achievement. View the video in Spanish for additional information.
Additional benefits to bilingualism include increased academic achievement. Our Dual Language Immersion programs consistently outperform our students in non-Dual Language Immersion classrooms. Other benefits include developing an appreciation for other cultures and languages, increased job opportunities, and research has shown a delay in the onset of Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia.
Student Enrollment
Program participation is voluntary. Parents are encouraged to become familiar with the Dual Language Immersion Program before enrolling their child. It is recommended that English-speaking students enroll in kindergarten or first grade. For the Spanish-speaking student, placement is also recommended in the primary grades. If no space is available, the student will be placed on a waiting list by language (English, Spanish, or bilingual).
Data on Dual Language Immersion Program:
- Currently, there are more than 108 programs in the state.
- Most operate in Spanish and English.
- Most exist at the elementary level.
- Many programs continue through middle and high school.
Contact Us
- Lalaine Perez, Executive Director, Ext. 181501
- Patricia Pimentel, Coordinator, Ext. 181523
- Dr. Nancy Rojas, Coordinator, Ext. 181525
- Olvia (Angie) Amador, District Biliteracy Resource Teacher, Ext. 181506
- Reina Galvez, District Biliteracy Resource Teacher, Ext. 181552