After successful pilot programs in two elementaries, Highline Public Schools officials are considering expanding the district’s dual language program.
In the program, students are taught in both English and Spanish.
In April, administrators hope to identify more schools that could begin the program in Fall 2013.
Language and Cultural Arts coordinator Bernard Koontz briefed the school board Jan. 25 on the program.
Highline’s first dual language program is operating at Hilltop Elementary in Burien with eight teachers and about 200 kindergarten through third-grade students. The other program at North Highline’s Mount View Elementary has six teachers and approximately 150 kindergarten through second-graders.
Half the students began kindergarten as Spanish speakers with the other half as English speakers. They all become “bi-literate,” Koontz said.
Bi-lingual students can listen and speak on a social or conversational basis in two languages, according to Koontz. Bi-literate students can read and write academically in two languages.
In kindergarten and first grade, each student learns literacy in their dominant language. However, all the students learn math in English and science and social studies in Spanish. By around the middle of second grade, the students are grouped together in all subjects.
Calling dual language programs a “wonderful resource,” Koontz said studies have shown the program helps students academically, including English native speakers.
“The brain gets stronger when you move between two languages,” Koontz declared.
He noted that over 24 families applied to transfer their kindergarten students into the program.
Koontz said Spanish speaking parents want their children to continue using Spanish while English speaking parents want their children to be equipped for a multicultural community. Being literate in two languages also helps students as adults thrive in a global job market, Koontz said.
The program results are strong at Hilltop and Mt. View where test scores matched or surpassed comparison schools and the district’s expectations, according to Koontz. He said enrollment and interest from families has remained high.
Koontz identified several Highline elementaries whose neighborhood demographics could support a program with half dominant Spanish/ half dominant English kindergarten students.
These include Madrona, Midway, Seahurst, Bow Lake, Hazel Valley and Beverly Park. Candidates for a modified program include White Center Heights, Cedarhurst, McMicken Heights and Southern Heights.
The first group of Hilltop dual language students will reach seventh grade in fall of 2015 so that is a potential target date for expanding into secondary schools, according to Koontz.
Koontz addressed potential problems in expanding the program. He said the district is meeting challenges in staffing, assessments, materials and instructional designs.
To date, community concerns have been minimal, Koontz reported.
Expenses for the program are largely cost neutral with additional expenses covered by English Language Learner (ELL) funding, he reported.
In the next few months, administrators will be evaluating the program, providing teacher training, holding community forums and identifying potential schools.
Koontz emphasized that not all students in schools with dual language programs would be enrolled in them. Hilltop has a total enrollment of about 575 students with 200 taking dual language courses. Mount View’s enrollment is about 600 with 150 in the program.
He added that other languages and other program models could be included in future dual language programs.
With the dual language presentation, several Spanish-speaking parents attended the board meeting and asked questions of administrators in Spanish—a rarity at Highline school board meetings despite the district’s large Hispanic enrollment. Board president Angelica Alvarez also conversed with the audience members in Spanish.
In a later Times/News interview, Koontz, addressing concerns of those who think only English should be taught in local schools outside of foreign language classes, noted that all dual language students become fully proficient in English.
