MEDIA CONTACT: Matt Cardoza, GaDOE Communications Office, (404) 651-7358, mcardoza@gadoe.org
Dorie Turner Nolt, GaDOE Communications Office, (404) 656-5594, dnolt@gadoe.org
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April 17, 2013 – Six new dual immersion elementary schools were recently awarded start-up grants to support materials and professional development in the 2013-2014 school year. These elementary schools will receive grants in the amount of $15,000 each for start-up and training costs to implement dual-immersion instruction in languages deemed vital to the economic development of our state and region.
Congratulations to the following schools:
District |
School |
Language |
Atlanta Public Schools |
D.H. Stanton Elementary School |
Spanish |
Atlanta Public Schools |
Perkerson Elementary School |
Spanish |
DeKalb County Schools |
Ashford Park Elementary School |
German |
DeKalb County Schools |
Evansdale Elementary School |
French |
DeKalb County Schools |
Rockbridge Elementary School |
French |
Henry County Schools |
Dutchtown Elementary School |
Chinese |
“Based on what global companies in Georgia tell us, we have set a goal for Georgia to have twenty dual-immersion programs in place by 2020,” said State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge. “These programs will help ensure a Georgia workforce that is fluent in languages and skilled at cultural interactions that are necessary for the economic development of our state and region.”
The Georgia Dual Immersion Program supports acquisition of advanced-level skills in world languages and provides students and communities with competitive advantages in an increasingly global economy. During implementation of these programs, the World Languages and Global Initiatives Unit of the GaDOE will collaborate with district and school leadership to ensure proper oversight of research-based principles of dual-immersion language development.
Students who complete dual-immersion programs will be prepared to continue higher-level study of language through middle and high school. Many of these students will be able to complete a college minor in their language prior to graduating from high school and will have the language expertise to study and work abroad - even selecting entire university or technical college programs overseas.
Additional support for the Georgia Dual Immersion Program has been provided by The German American Cultural Foundation (GACF), The Halle Foundation, and the German Consulate General in Atlanta.
Georgia Dual Immersion Program Basics:
The Georgia Dual Immersion Program will use the 50/50 model, in which students spend half of the school day in the target language and the other half-day in English.
- The state’s programs will begin in Kindergarten and maintain the 50/50 model throughout elementary school
- The state’s model will be a two-teacher model, one who instructs exclusively in the target language for half the day, and a second who teaches in English for half the day
- The state model currently supports dual-immersion program development and offers curriculum in Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, and Chinese languages. Each of these languages is determined to be a language vital to economic development and growth in our state and region.
- In grades 7-9, one content course will be taught in the target language, and a second course in advanced language study will be made available
- Many students will enroll in Advanced Placement language coursework and complete the AP exam in 9th grade
- In grades 10-12, students may select to continue advanced language study through partnerships with area universities (possibly completing a university minor in the language while in high school), schools may offer advanced language study opportunities, or students may begin study of a third language
- Schools receiving these start-up grants will receive targeted professional development and will take part in the new Southeast Dual Immersion Institute (SEDII) scheduled for July, 2013. This institute will be supported through a STARTALK teacher training grant provided by the National Security Language Initiative and in partnership with Georgia Regents University.
