Spanish Immersion
Providing Students with a World of Advantages
Why Immersion?
“In today’s educational landscape, it is imperative for Delaware students to
have the skills necessary to compete in a global economy. Learning a second
language will offer our children an advantage in this increasingly
competitive world.”
-Governor Jack Markell
More than forty years of research consistently documents the power of
immersion programs to help students attain high levels of second language
proficiency. No other type of instruction, short of living in a second-language
environment, is as successful. Young children especially thrive in this type of
learning environment, where learning a new language comes as naturally as
learning their first one.
Students will:
- Develop high levels of academic achievement in both the primary and
secondary languages
- Cultivate cross-cultural competencies needed to succeed in a
multicultural society
- Access rigorous, culturally inclusive education while nurturing a
diversity of identities
- Gain knowledge to become empowered agents of change in a global
community
Who can participate?
The Immersion Program is open to all students and will be selected based on
the following guidelines:
The cohort of students will generally reflect the demographics of Capital
School District; therefore, students will be equitably chosen based on gender
& ethnicity. However, to enhance the language learning of all students,
preference will be given to heritage Spanish speakers.
While the immersion program is open to all kindergarten students, academic
screening will be utilized to determine students’ potential success in learning
a second language and/or eligibility.
How do I enroll my child?
For Out-of-District students or In-District students who would like to choice
to Fairview or South Dover Elementary Schools:
- The parents must register their rising kindergarteners into their home
school
- The parents must complete an online School Choice application (found
SchoolChoiceDE)for either Central Elementary or South
Dover Elementary Schools and their Immersion programs
For students living within the Fairview or South Dover Elementary Schools
zones:
The parents must complete a “Spanish Immersion Program Lottery
Application” included in the school’s registration packet or request one from
the main office.
It is the mission of the Capital School District’s Dual Language Spanish
Immersion program to produce confidant, bi-literate, bilingual critical
thinkers who value and honor all cultures and languages.
What is Immersion?
Students learn academic content through a second language.
Students learn a second language by encountering and using the language
in multiple meaningful contexts.
The focus is on building proficiency – being able to use the language – not on
teaching grammar.
Both Fairview ES and South Dover ES utilize a One-Way Immersion model
with most of the students speaking English as their native language.
Program Benefits
ACADEMIC
Students achieve high levels of language proficiency in the immersion language. Students
satisfy the WL graduation requirement by the time they leave the elementary program.
Research shows that immersion students perform as well or better than their non-immersion
peers on standardized tests of English and mathematics.
ECONOMIC
Immersion students are better prepared for the global community and job markets where
world language skills provide them with an economic advantage. Delaware immersion
students have the opportunity to complete college –level coursework in languages while still
in high school.
SOCIOCULTURAL
Immersion students are more aware of and show a more positive attitude towards different
cultures. Immersion students demonstrate a greater appreciation of people who have
different cultural perspectives and practices.