Bassett board hears Sunkist Elementary leaders say dual immersion students outperformed peers on state tests

Sunkist Elementary School leaders told the Bassett Unified School District Board of Education on Aug. 26 that the school's dual immersion program has grown since its 2018-19 planning phase and that third-grade students in the program scored higher on recent state assessments than their general-education peers. The presentation, led by site staff in partnership with Loyola Marymount University and SEAL (the Center for Equity for English Learners), outlined instructional models, professional development partnerships and next steps to extend the pathway through middle and high school.

Administrators said the program began with a small cohort of trained teachers and launched its first TK and kindergarten cohort in August 2021. The program uses a 90/10 model in early grades that transitions to roughly 50/50 instruction by fourth and fifth grades, presenters said. Sunkist staff credited an ongoing partnership with Loyola Marymount University and the Center for Equity for English Learners for curriculum alignment, teacher professional development and parent engagement efforts.

Presenters shared assessment data the board said they track: third-grade English language arts (ELA) proficiency for Sunkist dual immersion students on the 2024 Smarter Balanced Assessment was reported as 44.44% meeting or exceeding the standard versus 22.73% for the general program; in math, the dual immersion group was reported at 55.56% meeting or exceeding the standard. Site benchmark and district screening data were presented showing dual immersion cohorts narrowing the gap on I-Ready and local benchmarks and a February snapshot that showed 77 of dual immersion students meeting or exceeding a language-arts benchmark. Staff also reported reclassification counts (37 English learners in the dual cohort, with two reclassified during the prior year and additional students not tested out) and said they will group instruction by levels to improve reclassification rates.

Presenters outlined constraints and next steps: recruiting and credentialing bilingual teachers (BCLAD or the newer bilingual authorization) remains a bottleneck; the district has identified a cost-free credential opportunity through LACOE for interested teachers; and staff plan to work with Torch Middle School and Bassett High School administrators to design a pathway that would allow the first Sunkist cohort to continue toward a Seal of Biliteracy at Bassett High School. The presentation also highlighted visual and performing arts integration (folklrico and music), family engagement goals and plans to monitor cohorts as students advance through the district.

Board members praised the site and asked staff to consider whether the program could serve as a district model. Several trustees noted the data presented and encouraged staff to continue expanding family outreach and teacher credential supports. The school will return to the board as it refines middle- and high-school articulation plans and the principal's advisory group evaluates family-engagement strategies.

Speakers quoted in this article come from the meeting record and include Sunkist presenters and district leadership.