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Claremont Unified outlines plan to expand dual-language immersion and create a pathway to biliteracy
Summary
District staff presented a dual-language immersion master plan that will add grade 6 in 2026–27 at Mountain View, proposes middle- and high-school coursework in Spanish and a pathway to the California State Seal of Biliteracy, and plans development of a Spanish proficiency assessment for secondary placement.
District staff presented details of a dual-language immersion (DLI) master plan at the Feb. 19 board meeting, outlining expansion from Mountain View Elementary (K–5) to include grade 6 in 2026–27 and a planned articulation into middle and high school leading to the California State Seal of Biliteracy.
The presenter said the program currently delivers roughly 50% of instruction in Spanish across content areas and that the district intends to offer two to three Spanish‑taught academic courses per grade level in middle school, with advanced academic Spanish at Claremont High School. Staff emphasized that instruction will include explicit Spanish language arts as a content area rather than simply using Spanish as the medium of instruction.
Program data cited by staff compared 2024–25 CAST results for dual‑immersion third‑ and fourth‑grade students against same‑grade peers districtwide: 68% of DLI students met or exceeded English language arts standards versus 59% of non‑DLI peers; 62% of DLI students met or exceeded math standards versus 59% districtwide. Staff said these results are consistent with research showing dual immersion students perform as well as or better than monolingual peers.
Access and assessment were central board concerns. Staff said they will: - Admit Spanish‑proficient students after first grade using a Spanish proficiency assessment; - Develop a common Spanish language proficiency assessment across elementary and middle grades to strengthen articulation; and - Prioritize sibling attendance, CUSD residents and children of district employees in enrollment; lotteries will be used if applications exceed space.
Board members asked about prerequisites for middle‑ and high‑school content taught in Spanish and whether state summative assessments (CAST) could be administered in Spanish. Staff said the district is evaluating Spanish language arts assessments and will continue professional development for elementary and secondary teachers to align curriculum, instruction and assessment.
The board received the item for information; no action was required.
