Charles County Public Schools told the Board of Education on Oct. 14 it will open a countywide lottery for up to 25 kindergarten seats at Middleton (AMES) for the Spanish‑English dual language immersion program that begins in fall 2026.

Lede details: Autumn Hoffman, content specialist for English language development and bilingual programs, said the application window will open Jan. 5, 2026 and close Feb. 8; the lottery will be run Feb. 11 with notifications to families by Feb. 20. The district said parents will be notified about next steps, required registration and screening (second‑grade applicants will need a Spanish proficiency screening for late entry).

Nut graf / context: The expansion is possible because redistricting and the opening of a new Thornton school freed seats at Middleton. The countywide application will include two applicant categories (English‑speaking applicant and Spanish‑speaking applicant) to ensure the program’s language balance; research and the program design require a minimum minority‑language representation so that the instructional model functions as intended.

Program logistics: The district will host two parent information sessions (one in‑person at Middleton and one virtual). Seats are limited (about one kindergarten class of roughly 25 students); parents of accepted students will be responsible for transportation. The district said it will post recordings and materials for families who cannot attend the live sessions.

Why it matters: Dual‑language immersion programs aim to build bilingualism and biliteracy and are a multi‑year commitment; staff said the district will consider future middle‑school options to continue language pathways for students who remain in the program beyond elementary grades.

Ending: District staff asked families to watch the district website and parent communication channels for the application and for updates to the parent‑information sessions.