Narrow the Achievement Gap
Languages, and in particular dual language programs, increase achievement on standardized tests and are shown to narrow the achievement gap not only for English learners but for all students.
Given the District’s widening achievement gap and the fact that only 20% of District English learners are in dual language programs, it is high time to use dual language education to address the achievement gap.
FACTS
Students in dual language programs:
- achieve significantly higher test scores regardless of race, socioeconomic status, special needs and language spoken at home
- have up to 14 points lower rates of classification as English Language Learners (ELLs) by sixth grade and retain their advantage better and longer than with any other intervention (see graph)
- have cognitive advantages, better executive functioning and a number of other skills that help them become better learners
- become bilingual and biliterate!
Online Shop Now Open!
Our online shop has released in time for the holiday season! Support equitable access to multilingual education in DC while getting gifts for students, colleagues, teachers, family, friends, and yourself! Sizes available range from Youth XS to Adult XXL. All Proceeds...
DC Immersion at ACTFL 2019
The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) hosted their 2019 annual convention and world languages expo at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Pre-convention workshops began Thursday, November 21, and the schedule programs ran through...
Brainstorming Equity of Access to Dual Language
On November 23, 2019, in collaboration with our partners at University of Maryland's National Foreign Language Center (NFLC), DC Immersion presented on the recently published report, Demographics and Equity of Dual Language Immersion Programs in Washington, D.C. at...
Cafritz Foundation Awards DC Immersion $35,000 Capacity Building Grant
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Washington, D.C., November 20, 2019 The DC Language Immersion Project (DC Immersion) is pleased to announce it was awarded a $35,000 grant from The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation. The grant will support the strengthening of DC...
La Suissesse qui veut rendre Washington bilingue
Our executive director was the guest of the 12th episode of the Révolution Bilingue podcast by Fabrice Jaumont. Enjoy! Passage par Washington pour ce douzième épisode de Révolution bilingue en partant à la rencontre de Vanessa Bertelli. Cette suissesse...
Demographics and Equity of Dual Language Immersion Programs in Washington, DC
An analysis of the demographics of kindergarteners in DC public dual language immersion (DLI) schools as compared with non-DLI schools, to move beyond anecdotal evidence, and inform the debate on equity of access to and enrollment in DLI programs. The report highlights areas of concern, and identifies policies and further research needed to allow the District’s most vulnerable students equitable access to these opportunity-boosting programs.
Un Tiempo Lleno de Memorias Dejadas Atrás
By Heriberto Silvano Delgado, DC Immersion's Multilingual Ambassador (English version further below) El mes de la herencia hispana me hace preguntarme de qué manera mucho de los jóvenes hispanos conocieron el significado de ser Hispano/a. En mi experiencia personal...
Our Goals (x4 by 2030)
DC Immersion is working to quadruple the number of seats in quality dual language programs by 2030 with a focus on low-income and at-risk communities. By 2023, our goal is: The District will have legislation mirroring California and New York giving families a right to...
Meet our Multilingual Ambassadors
In August 2019, eight seniors from the International Academy of Roosevelt High School DCPS joined DC Immersion for a 6 months internship. As part of the Multilingual Ambassadors program, the students will learn outreach strategies to inform DC's diverse communities...
Where do I start?
I created these resources to make it easier for people of color to access cost-effective experiences with highly beneficial return on investment. Guest post by Byron L. Williams, International Affairs Professional English as my mother tongue. Spanish when I was in my...