Board approves Gilbert dual-language immersion pilot, favors 90/10 Spanish model

The Buena Park School District governing board on a 5-0 vote approved a plan to launch a dual-language immersion program at Gilbert Elementary, beginning with a preschool class and a kindergarten class for the 2025–26 school year.

Director of Educational Programs Sandra Song presented the task force recommendation and a research-informed design for the program. Song told the board that the task force reviewed models and recommended a 90/10 model (partner language 90%/English 10% early, with formal English literacy introduced later) for the district’s Spanish DLI track.

The plan calls for one full class in preschool and one in kindergarten in the first year (maximum class size cited as 27), with the cohort advancing one grade level each year thereafter through middle school. The program timeline includes parent information meetings already held and ongoing program interest forms. Enrollment priority will be given first to students living within Gilbert’s attendance boundaries; Buena Park families outside those boundaries may apply via intra-district transfer and families from other districts may apply via inter-district transfer starting Feb. 18, subject to release from their home district and yearly renewal requirements.

Song said the DLI task force relied on guidance from the Orange County Department of Education Multilingual Services and national/state dual-language resources, and emphasized family commitment: “a minimum of 5 to 7 years of intense study are needed to fully develop second-language academic proficiency,” she said. The task force also recommended family engagement activities and information sessions before enrollment.

The board heard results from a districtwide parent survey that Song said showed strong interest: over 93% of respondents indicated support for a DLI program, and more than 70% named Spanish as their preferred partner language (Korean was the next most-requested at about 20%). Song said Gilbert was recommended because of consistent community support, good walkability, campus space that can host multiple tracks, and the opening of a new Gilbert Early Learning Center.

Trustees asked about capacity and expansion. Song said initial enrollment intent is one classroom each for preschool and kindergarten and that the district would scale the program based on interest and space. Trustee Frutos moved to adopt the implementation plan; Trustee Jensen seconded. The motion carried on a 5-0 roll call.

The board and staff said they plan ongoing communication with families and to publish a DLI webpage with FAQs, enrollment instructions and program details. The district will report updates to the board as the program enrolls students and expands.

Votes at the board meeting on the DLI item: Motion to approve implementation plan — mover: Trustee Frutos; second: Trustee Jensen; vote: 5-0 (approved).

Why it matters: Dual-language immersion is intended to build bilingualism, biliteracy and cross-cultural competence while serving the district’s English learners, multilingual learners and the broader student population. Starting a DLI track establishes a long-term curricular pathway (elementary through middle school) that can feed into high-school biliteracy opportunities.

Questions the board asked that remain pending: the district will provide final interest-form counts and report back on waitlist/lottery procedures if demand exceeds capacity.