By Nancy Whitney

Staff Writer

[email protected]

The Dual Language Program is opening their doors for new and interested students in Wylie ISD.

The district is offering the program at Cox Elementary, Bush Elementary and Draper Intermediate. It is open to students in kindergarten and first grade and costs nothing to enroll.

The school board chose to implement the 50/50 Dual Language Model of second language instruction nearly ten years ago. In the 50/50 design, students will receive half of their instruction in English and the other half in Spanish.

Each Dual Language Section is comprised of two classroom, one with an English and one with a Spanish-speaking teacher. Students include Spanish speakers and native English speakers.

Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies are instructed in both languages on an alternate day schedule.

All Dual Language Students will receive report grades based on their native language instruction/ performance (or the higher of the two languages).

Performance-Based Progress Reports will be sent home after the first 9-week grading period and the 3rd 9-week grading period reflecting student performance on Non-Native language.

Students will begin to receive report card grades in grade 5 for non-native language performance.

Goals for the program include developing higher order thinking skills as they learn a new language in a natural setting; English Language Learners and Native English speakers will develop proficiency in English and Spanish; both groups will demonstrate mastery of the state and district standards in all of the core subject areas; promote multicultural awareness and appreciation and both groups of students will work towards the common goal of becoming bilingual and bi-literate in a shared learning environment.

For full story see The Wylie News at http://www.etypeservices.com/Wylie%20NewsID245/default.aspx