Palm Springs Unified accepting applications for dual language immersion program

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — Families who want their children to become bilingual have an opportunity to enroll them in Palm Springs Unified School District’s Dual Language Immersion program, which teaches students in both English and Spanish while building academic and cultural skills.

The district is now accepting new transitional kindergarten and kindergarten students for the program at Vista del Monte Elementary School in Palm Springs and Two Bunch Palms Elementary School in Desert Hot Springs.

The program is designed to help students become bilingual and biliterate while maintaining strong academic achievement. In TK and kindergarten, 90% of instruction is taught in Spanish, gradually shifting each school year until students learn equally in both English and Spanish by fifth grade.

“The biggest impact that I see on the students who are enrolled in the dual immersion program is how they're seeing their bilingualism as a superpower,” said Jayro Alcantar, the district’s Dual Immersion Teacher on Special Assignment.

Students in the program develop proficiency in both languages while building strong academic foundations and cultural awareness.

“I see how our scholars are developing both languages proficiently, and they're becoming these simultaneous bilingual, balanced bilingual scholars,” Alcantar said.

Fifth-grader Iris Davis at Vista del Monte Elementary says learning two languages could help open doors later in life.

“It definitely would open up lots of different doors,” Davis said. “You could get way more jobs if you're bilingual in any language, really.”

Some parents initially worry that learning two languages may be overwhelming, but teachers say strategies like translanguaging help students succeed.

“Some misconceptions I can think of is the workload because their students are learning both languages,” said dual immersion teacher Janet Resendiz. “That’s where we bring in the translanguaging.”

Translanguaging allows students to use both languages to help them better understand lessons and express their ideas.

The program continues through middle school, and by high school many students can earn college credit and qualify for the California State Seal of Biliteracy, which recognizes graduates who demonstrate proficiency in two or more languages.

“I do see kids flourish in those two languages,” Resendiz said. “I just can’t wait to see what they do in the future.”

Families interested in enrolling must first attend a Dual Immersion Parent Information Night, where they receive the required enrollment documents, including the application, transfer terms and conditions, and a program acknowledgment form. After submitting the forms to the school office, school staff will contact families to confirm enrollment. The next meeting is scheduled for March 19th at Bubbling Wells Elementary at 5pm. 

More information is available at www.psusd.us/dualimmersion.