A child dressed in Dia de los Muertos attire during an event at the Chandler Magnet Elementary School.
The 80/20 Model
Dual Language students learn in an 80/20 model of instruction, which provides them with an intensive focus on developing reading and writing in Spanish in early grades, with strategic opportunities to transfer to English to develop biliteracy. Students begin in PreK and Kindergarten by learning 80% of content in Spanish and 20% of content in English, and transition each year to an even balance between the languages by third grade. Here is a chart detailing the 80/20 model:
PreK & K | Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grades 3-6 | Grades 7-8 | Grades 9-12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spanish | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 3 classes | 2 classes |
English | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 4 classes | 5 classes |
Frequently Asked Questions
The Benefits of Dual Language
Resources
A Peek into Dual Language Classrooms Videos (From Multistate Association for Bilingual Education)