Feb. 25--Elgin-area School District U46 is hosting a series of informational meetings for the parents of incoming kindergartners and first-graders whose primary language is English regarding the options available in the district's dual language programs.
The sessions will cover dual language benefits for students, the application process and the 80:20 program used in the district.
The 80:20 program refers to the fact that, in U46, the youngest students in dual language programs start out with 80 percent of their instruction in Spanish, and 20 percent in English, according to a district release.
That Spanish-language portion is reduced by 10 percent a year from Kindergarten through third grade, until the language split is 50-50 through sixth grade, according to the district.
The district is pushing ahead with plans to implement the dual language program at all middle schools by this fall.
Parents interested in the program have until April 22 to submit a dual language interest form, which is available on the district's website or at a child's home school.
The program has benefits for both kids who speak Spanish at home and those for whom English is a first language, English language learners program director Dr. Annette Acevedo said in the release.
"Dual language instruction is the only program proven to close the achievement gap between English language learners and their peers," she said. "It offers English-dominant students a head start on bilingualism, preparing all students for an increasingly global world."
Informational meetings will be held on the following dates:
March 3, 6 p.m. Century Oaks Elementary.
March 7, 6 p.m., Lincoln Elementary.
March 8, 6 p.m., Hilltop, Washington and Ronald O'Neal elementary schools.
March 9, 6:30 p.m., Heritage Elementary.
March 14, 6 p.m., Sunnydale Elementary and U46 Educational Services Center.
March 15, 6 p.m., Parkwood Elementary.
March 16, 6 p.m., Nature Ridge Elementary.
March 17, 5 p.m., Independence, Hillcrest and Oakhill elementary schools.
March 21, 6:30 p.m., Poplar Creek Library.
April 5, 6 p.m., Gail Borden Library.
April 19, 6 p.m., U46 Educational Services Center.
geoffz@tribpub.com
