Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Dual Immersion Spanish topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board hears plan to pilot dual‑immersion Spanish program; town halls and opt‑in to follow
Summary
District staff proposed a K–1 pilot in Spanish dual immersion, using existing curriculum in Spanish editions; board set next steps including informational meetings and an enrollment window.
Beverly Hills Unified School District staff outlined May 27 a plan to pilot a Spanish dual‑immersion program beginning with kindergarten and first grade at elementary schools and to hold parent information sessions before enrollment.
Presenter Dustin Seaman described the district’s intent to launch a one‑way Spanish dual immersion model that starts with a heavy Spanish instruction day (a 90/10 progression in early grades moving toward 50/50 by middle school). Seaman said the district can use existing adopted instructional materials in Spanish and would not need a separate textbook adoption. He suggested a capped pilot (about 20 students per class) and said the district will use retirements and current hiring windows to fill bilingual teacher vacancies rather than create net new elementary FTEs beyond regular staffing.
Trustees asked about selection criteria if demand exceeds seats; Seaman said the survey that the district circulated was for interest only and that an explicit opt‑in/enrollment window and objective placement criteria would be established before enrollment. Board members supported town halls and asked staff to bring back clear selection criteria (for example, attendance and teacher recommendation) if applications exceed capacity.
Trustees discussed program logistics including classroom distribution, impacts on class sizes and how the program would affect students who do not participate. Superintendent Dr. Cherness and trustees noted the program’s potential to produce biliteracy (the district’s Seal of Biliteracy was discussed) and to better prepare students for Spanish offerings in middle and high school.
Trustees praised the proposal as an early‑language opportunity: “Spanish is the second most used language in the nation and this is an approachable model,” one trustee said. The board did not take a formal vote; staff will hold informational meetings, publish an enrollment opt‑in window and return with final enrollment criteria.
