Portsmouth Public Schools (PPS) is proudly starting a Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Program in Fall 2024. This program will allow rising kindergarten students to build bilingualism/biliteracy, high academic achievement in two languages as well as socio-cultural competence through a partner language, Spanish. Supported by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages through robust research, DLI programs are proven to be beneficial to learners today and tomorrow.

The PPS DLI program sites are Brighton Elementary School, Churchland Primary and Intermediate Elementary School, and Simonsdale Elementary School; however, all PPS students are eligible to apply and receive transportation to one of these three designated schools based on their home address. This exciting opportunity will be taught by bilingual teachers and instructional assistants with the goal of all students learning to read, write and speak in both Spanish and English.

Families of rising kindergarteners can apply for the DLI program now by completing the application here.

Earlier this month, the division held an information night for families. The video recording of this presentation can be viewed below in English or Spanish, respectively.

Please reach out to the Office of ESL and World Languages with any questions or for more information.

Resources

• Dual Language Education (Virginia Department of Education)

• World Language Standards of Learning

• Seal of Biliteracy (Virginia Department of Education)

• Dual Language Immersion Program Models

• The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages- Research Findings