• Dual Language Immersion
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     Building better brains with two languages.
     
     
     

    2018 - 2019 Application Dates – Kindergarten Round Up: March 14th - 16th and May 31st - June 1st

    (Garden Hills Elementary will have an Early Decision window from March 14th - March 16th)

     

    The schools listed below provide a Spanish Dual Language Immersion program for students zoned to their schools and for the grade levels listed. Students begin in Kindergarten and continue each year. The application does not guarantee your child a spot. Should applications exceed the number of available slots, the school will determine placement via a lottery process that will be conducted by the local school. Please contact your child's school for more information.

     
    2018 - 2019 Dual Language Immersion Program Application Process
    Please complete the appropriate application listed below and return the Dual Language Immersion application with the completed APS Student Enrollment form to your child's school prior to the deadline. Should interest in the program exceed the number of available slots, parents will be notified and an internal lottery process conducted. After the first week of school admission to fill any remaining seats will be allocated based on the results of the lottery. Priority admission is given to students who are native Spanish speakers, students who are currently in a Spanish Dual Language Immersion program in another school, and to siblings of students already in the APS DLI program. Twins will be treated as one applicant in a lottery process. The APS DLI program only serves students who reside within the school's attendance zone unless the school is a designated Choice School.
     
     
    Kindergarten Dual Language Immersion Application for 2018 - 2019
     
    English Version: DLI K Application English
    Spanish Version: DLI K Application Spanish
     
    NOTE: Garden Hills Elementary will have a structured application process to better meet the needs of its community.
    Early Decision Window: March 14th - March 16th
    Regular Decision Window during Kindergarten Round Up dates: March 14th - March 16th and May 31st - June 1st
    If your child is not currently at one of the schools listed below and want your child to be considered for entry into the DLI program for 1st grade for 2018 - 2019, please download the application below. (Please note that APS will only support entry into the DLI program after 1st grade for native Spanish speaking students and students who transfer directly from another DLI Spanish program.)
     
    1st Grade Dual Language Immersion Application for 2018 - 2019
     
    Spanish Version: DLI 1st Application Spanish

     

    Dual Language Immersion Program Schools for 2018 - 2019

     

    Maynard Jackson Cluster:
     Congratuations to our newest DLI school...Benteen Elementary!
    Benteen will have slot available through the School Choice process, so parents who live outside of the Benteen attendance can submit an application for the Dual Language Immersion Program! (Deadline for School Choice is March 30th.)

     

    Benteen Elementary (K)

    200 Casanova Street

    Atlanta, GA 30315

    404-802-7300

     

     
     
     

     

     

     
    North Atlanta Cluster:    
     

     

    Bolton Academy (K - 2nd)

    2268 Adams Drive

    Atlanta, Georgia 30318

    404-802-8350

     
    E Rivers ES (K - 3rd)

    8 Peachtree Battle Ave

    Atlanta, Georgia 30305

    404-802-7050
     

    Garden Hills ES (K - 3rd)  

    285 Sheridan Dr NE

    Atlanta, Georgia 30305

    404-802-7800
     

    2741 Howell Mill Road

    Atlanta, Georgia 30327

    404-802-7250

     

    		  
     

     Sarah Smith ES (K - 2nd)

     370 Old Ivy Road

     Atlanta, Georgia 30342

     404-802-3850

     

    The Dual Language Immersion Program initially began in APS during the 2013‐2014 school year and has grown each year. DLI schools add a grade level to the program each year until the program spans all grade levels, Kindergarten through 5th grade. The APS Dual Language Immersion Program is a two teacher, 50/50 model in which students spend half of the day learning in English and the other half of the day in Spanish.

     

     

    Why Dual Language Immersion?

    Research has proven that world language study boosts the brain. Results indicate that bilingualism is reliably associated with several cognitive outcomes, including increased attentional control, working memory, meta‐linguistic awareness, and abstract and symbolic representation skills. (Adesope, Lavin, Thompson, Ungerleider, 2010).

    Dual Language Immersion programs are the most effective types of learning for nurturing bilingual/biliterate students.  The APS Dual Language Immersion program helps students to develop linguistic competence in both languages at the same time (listening, speaking, reading, and writing). Studying in two languages allows students to transfer knowledge and skills acquired in one language to the other.  They are able to feel comfortable and successful in one language while gradually building the second language.

    By continuing to learn and develop using two languages, children’s educational and cognitive developments are enhanced.  Learning in two languages provides students with access to two groups of literature, an opening to diverse traditions, ideas, and ways of thinking which can lead to open mindedness, flexibility, and an ability to think in a different way.

     
    Click here to access the handout "What Parents Need to Know about DLI in APS."
     
    For more information about the APS Dual Language Immersion program, visit the APS DLI Support site at http://tinyurl.com/apsdli

     

     
    APS is committed to 

    o   Ensuring Highly Qualified Certified teachers. Spanish partner teachers are native Spanish speakers with high levels of language. English partner teachers are also highly qualified and certified. In schools with two-way programs the English partner teacher also holds the ESOL Endorsement or ESOL certification.

    o   Ensuring high quality instructional materials in Spanish and English for these classrooms. With a focus on the use of authentic Spanish language and not just translated text.

    o   Ensuring that all students receive a curriculum in English and in Spanish that is based upon the Georgia Standards of Excellence, as decided by the State of Georgia.

     

    Question:
    Do I have to reside in the zone for one of the schools listed above for my child to attend this program?
     
    Answer:
    Yes.  However, if the school has been designated as a choice school, there may be some limited spaces for students who do not reside in the school attendance zone. Parents would need to complete the application for school of choice to be selected for the school and then complete the Dual Language Immersion application. 
     
    Question:
    How long is the commitment to the program?
     
    Answer:
    Parents/guardians are asked to commit to the program at the elementary school until their child completes 5th grade. APS plans to provide Dual Language Immersion Program at the feeder middle and high schools for the schools listed above. Upon completion of the Dual Language Immersion program in 12th grade, students may be eligible for the Georgia Seal of Biliteracy.
     

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    Multilingualism Matters!