Dive Brief:

• California's dual-language immersion programs have become popular among both students learning English and those who speak it natively.
• Typically, English and another language are used throughout the class, with the native and non-native speakers expected to benefit from one another.
• It's not just Spanish: Mandarin, Cantonese, and Hmong are among the languages used in some schools 

Dive Insight:

A 1998 ballot measure put a big damper on such programs when it nearly eliminated bilingual instruction in California schools, but parents who want bilingual programs can sign Proposition 227 waivers to help bring such programs to their schools. And a ballot measure could be headed for a 2016 vote to repeal Proposition 227 altogether.