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School staff propose expanding dual-language immersion to two more Winchester elementary schools
Summary
Staff presented a plan to expand Winchester’s dual-language (Spanish-English) immersion program to Corals (proposed for kindergarten in 2026) and John Kerr (targeted for 2027), discussed staffing, assessment, costs and family outreach, and flagged the need to clarify assessment messaging for parents.
Jake, a curriculum/program staff member, presented a proposal and timeline to expand Winchester’s Spanish-English dual-language immersion program to additional elementary schools.
Jake said the division’s dual-language program currently serves Frederick Douglass and Virginia Avenue elementary schools and extends into Dana Morgan Intermediate and Dana Morgan Middle. He recommended starting a dual-language track at Corals in kindergarten for the next school year and adding John Kerr in 2027, while leaving specific grade-start decisions to each school.
Why it matters: staff argued the program promotes bilingualism, biliteracy and equity of access; it also attracts families from outside the division and can strengthen school identity. Jake said the immersion model typically delivers 50 percent instruction in Spanish for targeted…
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