Warning! Editing this pageset section will affect all pages on your website.

NEWS RELEASE: San Diego Unified Increases Commitment to Bilingual Education by Proposing New Dual Language Academy

NEWS RELEASE: San Diego Unified Increases Commitment to Bilingual Education by Proposing New Dual Language Academy
Posted on 10/20/2017

San Diego Unified School District

SAN DIEGO (October 20, 2017) - On Tuesday, October 24, the San Diego Unified School Board will consider a proposal that would increase the district's dual language immersion program as a part of their commitment to ensuring that all students have the opportunity to graduate ready for college and career success in a global marketplace.

The proposal would expand the District's language learning opportunities that offer 9 world languages in a variety of pathways and programs that allow students to acquire a language other than English. Those languages include: American Sign Language (ASL), Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Filipino, French, German, Japanese, Latin, Spanish

The District recognizes that in addition to being academically prepared and fully proficient in English, all students benefit from being proficient in another language. In fact, a recent survey of California employers showed that a majority of employers, across all sectors, small business, large business, want and prefer bilingual employees.“ Expanding opportunities for our students to participate in dual language programs will help us give our students a competitive edge in a global career marketplace.” said Superintendent Cindy Marten. In support of this, the District has made language learning opportunities available to all students through a variety of K-12 pathways which include: Biliteracy programs, Language Immersion and Dual Language Immersion programs, Language Enrichment programs and World Language programs and courses.

The new academy proposal comes as a result of the district's parent and community collaboration and mutual desire for more biliterate classrooms, aimed at better preparing our students for a global economy. “This school year, the district received over 1,100 Choice applications for language immersion programs, as a district we have been listening to our school communities and the message is clear, our students and families want more dual language immersion programs.” said Marten.

If approved by the Board, beginning in the 2018-19 school year, John Muir school would become a K-8 French and Spanish language immersion school that would be available to students district-wide through the Choice program.

In addition to Muir's transition to a dual language academy, Muir will also undergo a Whole Site Modernization through Props S and Z beginning in 2018-19. The school will be expanded from its current 400-student capacity to approximately 700 students, and will be designed to meet the instructional needs of a dual language immersion school.

The District's Choice application window is currently open through November 13, 2017. Parents interested in enrolling their students in one of San Diego Unified's language programs for the 2018 - 2019 school year are urged to call the District's Enrollment Options Center at (619) 260-2410 to learn more about the opportunities available to them.
Media Inquiries: Isabella McNeil, San Diego Unified School District, 619-341-2343 [email protected]