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TABLE OFCONTENTS03Program Goals04Benefits of Bilingualism05Research Supports DLA06California Seal Biliteracy Path07PYLUSD Dual Language Pathway08Elementary Program Model10Middle School Program Model12High School Program Model13High School Four-Year Sample Plan14FAQs15DLA in Action
Bilingualism and BiliteracyAcademic AchievementCross-Cultural UnderstandingTo develop language proficiency and biliteracy in both English and SpanishTo ensure academic excellence and high academic achievementTo cultivate multicultural competence, understanding, and appreciationTo become college and career ready as bilingual, biliterate citizensTHE DUAL LANGUAGE ACADEMY GOALS ARE:
BENEFITS OFBILINGUALISMCognitive and Academic Benefits of Bilingualism:Research shows that bilingual students develop stronger problem-solving skills,improved memory, and greater mental flexibility. These cognitive advantagesoften lead to enhanced performance in reading, math, and other core academicsubjects. Bilingualism also promotes better attention control and the ability toswitch between tasks more efficiently skills that benefit learners throughouttheir academic journey and beyond.Simultaneous Language Development:Dual Language Immersion offers an “additive bilingual” approach, meaningstudents gain a second language without compromising their first. Thissimultaneous development of two languages enriches both linguistic andcultural understanding, supporting students’ ability to communicate effectivelyin diverse settings.Increased Opportunities for the Future:Bilingual individuals are highly valued in today’s global economy. Proficiency intwo languages opens doors to a wider range of career opportunities, higherearning potential, and competitive advantages in college admissions and theworkforce. Bilingualism is also associated with long-term brain health anddelayed onset of age-related cognitive decline.Equitable Access to Biliteracy:Dual Language Immersion programs providestudents from all backgrounds including EnglishLearners and those from historically underservedcommunities with access to the full range ofbenefits that come from being bilingual andbiliterate. These programs are a powerful tool forpromoting educational equity and lifelongsuccess.
English language learners (ELLs) in dual language programsperform better than their peers academically over time!RESEARCH SUPPORTSDUAL LANGUAGEAs illustrated in the graph above, ELLs in dual langauge programs typicallybegin below the performance of non-ELLs (indicated by the dotted line) onstandardized tests in English, but eventually catch up and even surpass theirpeers. Two-way dual language programs show the best long-term outcomes.
CALIFORNIA STATESEAL OF BILITERACYThe California State Seal of Biliteracy is an honor awarded to high school students whodemonstrate fluency in English and at least one other language. This special recognition is agold seal placed on the student’s high school diploma and transcript, and helps to signalevidence of a student’s college and career readiness as well as engagement as a global citizen. How Can My Student Earn the Seal?Students must meet one of thefollowing:Complete all high school EnglishLanguage Arts courses with a 3.0 GPAor higherScore “Standard Met” or above on theGrade 11 SBAC English Language ArtstestEarn a score of 3 or higher on the APEnglish Language or Literature examScore 480 or higher on the Reading &Writing section of the SATEnglish Learners must also earn a 4on the Oral Language section ofthe ELPAC, in addition to one of thecriteria above.Why It MattersThe Seal of Biliteracy is a meaningful way to honor your student’s hard work, culturalheritage, and valuable language skills. It can also give them an edge in collegeadmissions, scholarships, and future career opportunities.For more information, please contact your school counselor or world language teacher.Students must meet one of thefollowing:Pass a World Language AP examwith a score of 3 or higherSuccessfully complete four yearsof a high school world languagecourse with an overall B averageor better, and pass a rigorous orallanguage examPass a language proficiency test(such as the AVANT offered byOUSD) that measures speaking,reading, and writing at a mid-intermediate level or higherWorld LanguageCriteriaEnglish LanguageCriteriaTo qualify, students must meet criteria in both English and a second language.
Orange CountySchool ofComputer ScienceTuffreeMiddle School EsperanzaHigh School5350 Fairmont Blvd, Yorba Linda, CA 92886(714) 986-7400www.ocscs.org2151 N Kraemer Blvd, Placentia, CA 92870(714) 986-7480www.tuffree.org1830 Kellogg Dr, Anaheim, CA 92807(714) 986-7540www.esperanzahs.netGlenviewElementary School1775 N Glenview Ave, Anaheim, CA 92807(714) 986-7150www.glenviewbulldogs.org
GradeTarget LanguageEnglishTK andKindergarten90%10%First80%20%Second70%30%Third60%40%Fourth and Beyond*50%50%Beginning with the 2024-25 school year, Glenview adopted the “90/10”model for its dual immersion program. In the 90/10 dual languageimmersion (DLI) model, the target language is used in kindergarten for90% of the instructional time and English is used for 10%. At each gradelevel, the amount of instruction in English increases by 10%, as per thecharts, below, and is considered a "sequential literacy" model, as literacy inthe target language is developed before moving on to formallydeveloping literacy in English.
SPANISHTK-K Grade90/101st Grade80/20— 2nd Grade70/303rd Grade60/404th-6th Grade50/50GRADEMathPlay to Learn (TK)Science/ Social Studies (K)Spanish Language Arts/ SLDENGLISHMathScienceSocial StudiesSpanish Language Arts/ SLDScience (exception 5 grade) thSocial StudiesSpanish Language Arts ScienceSocial StudiesSpanish Language Arts/ SLD ELD (K)Physical EducationMusicEnglish Language Arts/ ELDPhysical EducationMusicMathEnglish Language Arts/ ELDPhysical EducationMusicMathEnglish Language Arts/ ELDPhysical EducationMusicMinute allocations vary per grade level and subject.
Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, DLA students will have the option ofattending the Orange County School of Computer Science or Tuffree MiddleSchool as they continue their bilingual journey into 7th grade.At the middle school level, Dual Language Academy students will benefit from adynamic and comprehensive program designed to build on their bilingualfoundation. Students will take three classes in Spanish each year, ensuring theirlanguage skills continue to flourish across a variety of academic subjects.The program includes:Spanish for Native Speakers 2A/2B: A specialized level two course thatstrengthens students' reading, writing, and speaking abilities in Spanish.Social Science in Spanish: Students will explore history, geography, andcivics while engaging in rich, Spanish-language instruction, following thesame curriculum as their English-taught peers.Science in Spanish: Hands-on, inquiry-based science instruction will also bedelivered in Spanish, maintaining the rigorous standards of the district'sscience curriculum.This exciting opportunity allows students to deepen their Spanish proficiencywhile staying fully aligned with grade-level academic expectations.A sample student schedule is provided below to give a glimpse into thisenriching experience.
If you have questions about the DualLanguage Academy, please contact:Orange County School of ComputerScience Principal, Cameron Shepherd at(714) 986-7400 or cshepherd@pylusd.orgTuffree Middle School Principal, SarahBarton at (714) 986-7480 orsbarton@pylusd.orgClasses Taught inEnglishClasses Taught inSpanishPhysical EducationSpanish for Native Speakers 2Language ArtsSocial ScienceMathScienceElective Class
Esperanza High School proudly serves as the home of the Dual LanguageAcademy (DLA) at the high school level, offering students a powerful pathwayto bilingual excellence.DLA students at Esperanza are thriving, steadily progressing toward earningthe prestigious State Seal of Biliteracy while continuing to strengthen andrefine their Spanish language skills. In high school, students enter full"maintenance mode," where they build upon their bilingual foundationthrough a rich sequence of advanced Spanish coursework.The Dual Language Academy course sequence includes:Spanish for Native Speakers 3/3H: Deepening literacy, critical thinking,and cultural knowledge in Spanish.AP Spanish Language and Culture: College-level study focusing onadvanced communication skills and cultural fluency.AP Spanish Literature and Culture: A rigorous exploration of Spanish-language literature from around the world.Chicano Studies (Dual Enrollment Course): A college-credit courseoffering an in-depth study of Chicano history, culture, and contributions.At Esperanza, Dual Language Academy students are empowered to embracetheir bilingualism and leave high school ready to succeed in college, careers, andbeyond.
9th Grade10th GradeLanguage Arts 1 / HonorsLanguage Arts 2 / HonorsMathMathLiving Earth/HonorsChemistry of the Earth / HonorsSpanish Native SpeakersAP Spanish LanguageCollege & Careers/HealthWorld History/AP EuroPE 9 / AthleticsPE 10 / Athletics 11th Grade12th GradeLanguage Arts 3 / HonorsLanguage Arts 4 / HonorsMath / ElectiveMath / ElectivePhysics of the Earth/HonorsScience / HonorsAP Spanish LiteratureIntro to Chicano Studies*US History / AP US HistoryGovernment / Economics (AP)Athletics / ElectiveAthletics / ElectiveDual Enrollment FullertonCollege CourseThis is a sample plan thatdoes not include anyacademy, IB/Cambridge, orCTE pathway courses.Students need to complete230 credits to earn aPYLUSD HS Diploma andcan further design theireducational experiencebased on their interests andability level in multiplesubject areas.
LEARN MORE Who can enroll in a Spanish dual languageprogram?All students are welcome to apply to enroll inTransitional Kindergarten (TK) or Kindergarten. NoSpanish background is required. If your child hasnever had Spanish exposure, he or she will startlearning Spanish from day 1 of school!Why learn Spanish?Extensive studies have shown the benefits ofmultilingualism including increased creativity,focus, lateral thinking, executive functioning, andother enhancements that occur in a child’s brain asthey develop in two languages. These benefits lasta lifetime. If your child continues to practice theirSpanish and become fully bilingual, they will be atan advantage for college, jobs, and lifeopportunites as a young adult.Do families need to know how to speakSpanish?Families do not need to speak Spanish in order fortheir children to be successful learners. This iswhere the process of immersion is especiallyvaluable. Because your child is being spoken to inSpanish throughout their school day, they aregetting enough exposure to the language to graspand master the language without using it at home.Families will have opportunities to learn how tosupport their children at home as they develop inSpanish.How will my child understand what is going onin class if they have never taken Spanish?Your child’s teacher will:provide interactive experieces so children learnfrom each other.use teaching techniques such as gestures, visualsupports, graphic organizers, and languageresources to ensure all students comprehendthe content and build language skillssimultaneously.utilize stories, songs, games, and play to makelearning fun and help students understandSpanish.Your child will also have daily instruction in English.Will my child fall behind in English or othersubjects?Studies have shown that some students mighttemporarily perform at a lower level in English incomparison to their peers learning only in English.However, over time, students in dual languageprograms consistently meet or outperform theirpeers learning in the later grades.How does the program work?Literacy instruction: Students will learn to readand write in both Spanish and English. Theamount of Spanish and English depends on themodel of the dual language program: 90/10 or50/50. Students will be taught all grade levelstandards in all subjects areas. My child already speaks Spanish at home. Isn'tan English program better for them? For children who already speak Spanish at home,bilingual programs build confidence and pride intheir culture and identity. Studies show thatLatino students who maintain their homelanguage are 4 times more likely to graduate fromcollege.How and when do I apply?To enroll in a dual language program, familiesmust apply during the regular enrollment period,indicating their interest in the dual languageoption on the application.Go to pylusd.org/dla or scan the QR code.Call the school directly if you would like a tour.
www.pylusd.org/dla