Dive Brief:
- A new American Institutes for Research (AIR) report, "Dual Language Education Programs: Current State Policies and Practices," has been released and offers policy recommendations about how states can help school districts create and maintain robust dual language instruction.
- The expansion of dual language programs should be a statewide priority, AIR recommends, pointing to the state of Utah, where a public-private partnership has helped 138 schools develop coursework.
- States can also create funding opportunities to incentivize dual language programming in schools, like offering start-up grants, offering specialized diplomas to bilingual or multilingual students, and prioritizing the training and hiring of language teachers.
Dive Insight:
Dual language programs seem to be equally popular with native English speaking students and non-native English speaking students alike. In California, dual-language immersion programs have seen success with Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese and Hmong instruction. New York City schools have also expanded dual language programs, offering programs in 180 schools as of last October. President Obama's "1 Million Strong" initiative also aims to teach Mandarin to one million American students by the year 2020.
Bilingual or dual language education has proven economic benefits for students, as well as cognitive advantages. “Decades of research show documented results for indigenous-language immersion—including significant gains in achievement, family involvement, and community pride — for a population of students with dismal education outcomes,” the Atlantic Monthly has reported.