U-46 to host Dual Language info meetings for 2016-17 program

Elgin Area School District U-46 is inviting all families of incoming kindergarteners or English-dominant first-graders to Dual Language informational meetings hosted at local schools during the next couple of months. The sessions will cover the district's 80:20 Dual Language program, related research, benefits for students and the application process.

The district's "80:20" program refers to the fact that in U-46, the youngest students start out with 80 percent of their instruction in Spanish and 20 percent in English, reducing the Spanish-language portion by 10 percent per year from kindergarten through third grade, until the split is 50-50, where it remains through sixth grade.

"Dual language instruction is the only program proven to close the achievement gap between English Language Learners and their peers, and it offers English-dominant students a head start on bilingualism, preparing all students for an increasingly global world," said Drive Annette Acevedo, director of the U-46 English Language Learners Program.

Parents interested in the program have until Friday, April 22, 2016 to submit their "DL Interest Form," which is available on the district's Dual Language website or at their child's home school.

All parents of incoming kindergarteners and English-dominant first graders in the 2016-17 school year that are interested in the 80:20 Dual Language Program.

• Harriet Gifford Elementary, 240 S. Clifton Ave., Elgin, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23

• Lords Park Elementary, 323 Waverly Drive, Elgin, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23.

• Ridge Circle Elementary, 420 Ridge Circle, Streamwood, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23

• Garfield Elementary, 420 May St., Elgin, at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24

• Glenbrook Elementary, 315 Garden Circle, Streamwood, at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24

• Lowrie Elementary, 264 Oak St., Elgin, at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24

• Timber Trails Elementary, 1675 McDonough Road, Hoffman Estates, at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24

• Hanover Countryside Elementary, 6 S. Bartlett Road, Streamwood, at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25

• Huff Elementary, 801 Hastings St., Elgin, at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25

• McKinley Elementary, 258 Lovell St., Elgin, at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25

• Otter Creek Elementary, 2701 Hopps Road, Elgin, at 6:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25

• Highland Elementary, 190 N. Melrose Ave., Elgin, at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 1

• Laurel Hill Elementary, 1750 Laurel Ave., Hanover Park, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 1

• Creekside Elementary, 655 N. Airlite St., Elgin, at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 2

• Illinois Park Center for Early Learning, 1350 Wing St., Elgin, at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 2

• Century Oaks Elementary, 1235 Braeburn Drive, Elgin, at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 3

• Lincoln Elementary, 1650 Maureen Drive, Hoffman Estates, at 6 p.m. Monday, March 7

• Hilltop Elementary, 1855 Rohrssen Road, Elgin, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 8

• Ronald O'Neal Elementary, 510 Franklin Blvd., Elgin, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 8

• Washington Elementary, 819 W. Chicago St., Elgin, at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 8

• Heritage Elementary, 507 Arnold Ave., Streamwood, at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 9

• Sunnydale Elementary, 716 Sunnydale Blvd., Streamwood, at 6 p.m. Monday, March 14

• Parkwood Elementary, 2150 Laurel Ave., Hanover Park, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 15

• Nature Ridge Elementary, 1899 Westridge Blvd., Bartlett, at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 16

• Independence Elementary, 200 Taylor Ave., Bartlett, at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 17

• Hillcrest Elementary, 80 N. Airlite St., Elgin, at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 17

• Oakhill Elementary, 502 S. Oltendorf Road, Streamwood, at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 17

• U-46 Educational Services Center, 355 E. Chicago St., Room #239, Elgin, at 6 p.m. Monday, March 14, and Tuesday, April 19

• Gail Borden Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 5

• Poplar Creek Library, 1405 S. Park Ave., Streamwood, at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 21