U-46 receives the Promoting Bilingualism Award

U-46 School District has been awarded the Promoting Bilingualism Award by the Two-Way California Association for Building Education, an organization that (based on their website) is dedicated to “students who seek bilingualism and biliteracy, high academic achievement, and the development of positive intercultural relationships and pro-social skills.”

Superintendent Dr. José M. Torres attended the 20th Annual Two Way Immersion National Conference (June 27-30) in Newport Beach, Calif., with ELL director Wilma Valero, and Dual Language coordinator Patricia Makishima, to receive the award.

The Promoting Bilingualism Award is presented to “individuals and/or organizations who have demonstrated a strong commitment in promoting bilingualism and multilingualism through their body of work and through their policy initiatives.”

This year, U-46 implemented a district wide 80:20 Dual Language Program. The model serves Spanish-speaking and English Language Learner students in grades pre-K through second grade in 30 elementary schools, including two Early Learning Centers.

In addition, this school year, Native-English speakers and English-dominant students participated in the Two-Way Dual Language program at seven of the 30 schools. This provides an opportunity for students to become fluent and literate in both English and Spanish.

More information can be found on the U-46 Dual Language website, www.u-46.org/ell.