Successful dual-language schools in Colorado often start as grassroots efforts, operating on their own paths, working with consultants to get advice on running the programs.
But as the number and popularity of the bilingual schools grow, some districts are re-evaluating how to support them and make more of the schools successful.
“We don’t want to make them cookie-cutter programs either, but right now they kind of became dual language on their own and we were not able to support them,” said Darlene LeDoux, director of academic achievement for English learners in Denver Public Schools.
Colorado does not track the number of dual-language programs in the state. Nationwide researchers estimate there are more than a thousand such programs.
There are different types, but most dual-language schools are defined by having all content — like science, math and social studies — taught in English and a foreign language, most often, Spanish. Young children start with varying amounts of time in each language, but the goal is to get to a half-and-half split by third grade.
Supporters say bilingualism helps students compete in the global economy, and researchers say bilingual students perform better academically than students who speak one language.
In Denver Public Schools and in Jefferson County Public Schools, where a growing number of immigrant families moved into the eastern parts of the district, officials say the programs are helping get students to English proficiency.
But not all programs have had equal success.
“We’re really trying to play more of a role with our dual-language programs,” said Susana Cordova, chief of schools for DPS. “We are definitely looking at having more support for the implementations, bringing in some consultants and looking at how our training of teachers aligns.”
Three DPS schools have a version of dual-language programs. Two others, Valverde Elementary and CMS Community School, recently tried implementing dual language, but the district is canceling the program at Valverde and trying to design a different version of dual language for CMS students.
Despite the district’s concerns, the program was popular with parents. CMS parent Claudia Salazar said she is moving her 6-year-old son, Jesus, to another school because of the changes.
“This is our language,” Salazar said. “I want him to speak English, but I also want him to learn Spanish.”
In Jefferson County Public Schools, six elementary schools offer two types of dual-language programs. The district is getting ready to try a gradual implementation of dual-language courses at two new seventh- through 12th-grade schools.
“This has been one of our goals for many years,” said Catherine Baldwin, director of the English as a second language and dual-language department in Jeffco schools. “I’ve been in the district for 19 years. We wanted to get to a place where we were able to offer something at the second level, but it takes time, money and staff. We feel that we’re just beginning on a path to a full K-through-12 programming.”
Jeffco’s Alameda International High School and Jefferson High School might be ready to add one core content class — like science — in Spanish for seventh-graders in the 2016-17 school year, Baldwin said.
In the meantime, Denver and Jeffco are working on professional development specific for teachers in existing dual-language programs.
LeDoux said DPS is going to hire a new position to support the programs. The district also wants principals of those schools to have ways to collaborate with each other to help implement programs with success.
Tara Fortune, an immersion program director at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition, said that research on implementation is still needed.
“We need more people who are committed to developing what ‘well-implemented’ actually means,” Fortune said. “A lot of programs that have started without sufficient support have not had sufficient infrastructure support and don’t do well, so truly fleshing out what best practice is when it comes to defining high-quality implementation, that’s an ongoing concern.”
At Bryant-Webster Dual Language ECE-8 School in northwest Denver, principal Pam Linan has worked with consultants for years. In that time, some challenges have lessened — such as getting English-speaking and Spanish-speaking parents to work together. Other issues — such as declining enrollment at the middle school grades and finding teachers — remain a challenge.
“We’re going to be bringing everyone together to talk about what they need and what would help them,” LeDoux said. “We must listen to their voices to make sure all of our dual-language programs are of quality.”
Yesenia Robles: 303-954-1372, yrobles@denverpost.com or twitter.com/yeseniarobles
