Delaware’s language immersion program that debuted last September at three schools will nearly triple in size by next fall.
As part Governor Jack Markell’s World Language Immersion Expansion Initiative program, seven additional schools will begin offering Mandarin and Spanish immersion classes to kindergarten and first grade students next school year.
Markell says the goal have nearly 10 thousand K-8 students in immersion programs by 2022. The program is supported by annual state investment of $1.9 million.
Delaware’s program includes 50 percent foreign language instruction and 50 percent in English. Classes have two teachers – one for each language. Students engage academic content through a second language.
Markell says introducing children to language study at an early age will help Delaware compete in a global marketplace. Youth in Asia and Europe typically begin learning additional languages as early as 5 years old.
McIlvaine Early Childhood Center in the Caesar Rodney School District, Kent County, John. M. Clayton Elementary School in the Indian River School District, and Lewis Elementary School in the Red Clay Consolidated School District launched the immersion programs this school year.
The schools adding the program next school year are:
Spanish Immersion Programs
- South Dover Elementary School (Capital School District)
- Pulaski Elementary School (Christina School District)
- Blades Elementary School (Seaford School District)
- West Seaford Elementary (Seaford School District)
Mandarin Chinese Immersion Programs
- Downes Elementary School (Christina School District)
- Wilbur Elementary School (Colonial School District)
- New Castle Elementary School (Colonial School District)