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Elkhorn principal reports growth as Washington Unified phases in dual-immersion K–8 program
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Summary
District staff told the board Elkhorn’s dual-immersion strand is transitioning to a full bilingual model, with kindergarten fully dual immersion (66 students), increasing dual-immersion enrollment and measurable gains on several assessments, while leaders flagged ongoing space and staffing needs.
Elkhorn Principal Dr. Jose Gutierrez told the Washington Unified School District board the site is in its first year of transitioning to a fully bilingual dual-immersion K–8 campus, with kindergarten offered entirely in a dual-immersion model and 66 kindergarteners enrolled. “Our dual immersion program is focused on bringing bilingualism to our students,” Gutierrez said, summarizing the program model and goals.
The presentation described a 90/10 entry model that shifts 10 percentage points to English each year until students reach a 50/50 balance in fourth grade. Gutierrez said 71% of Elkhorn students are now in dual-immersion classes and that the program composition is roughly one-third native English speakers, one-third native Spanish speakers and one-third heritage speakers. He added that 29% of students in the dual-immersion strand are still classified as English learners.
Officials also presented recent assessment results. Gutierrez said district i-Ready data showed a 10% increase in students at or above early grade level in reading since the start of the year, a 7% gain in math, and a 9% improvement for English learners on CAASPP. On the California Spanish Assessment (administered to third grade and above), he reported 59% of dual-immersion students at levels 2 or 3 and a 28% year-over-year increase from level 2 to level 3.
Stacy Tran, who introduced the item, described supports including paraeducators, a DI TOSA to coach reading and writing in Spanish, teacher professional learning (SEAL dual-immersion training), and partnerships with Sac State for student-teacher recruitment. The presentation said the district is adding student portfolios and a Bilingual Pathway Awards program to recognize language progress.
Trustees and staff asked about where incoming students live and how the district will track neighborhood versus out-of-area enrollment; Gutierrez said applications and assessments will be reviewed to provide that breakdown. Trustees also pressed for clarity on which subjects are taught in Spanish versus English at each grade level; Gutierrez explained that by middle school content is divided by subject (for example, history and SLA in Spanish; math and science often in English) as part of a deliberate transition to preserve content knowledge and testing readiness.
The update closed with a note that the kindergarten cohort will enter the program first and that the district plans to add a new cohort each year until Elkhorn is fully dual immersion. The board received the information and had no further action beyond asking staff to return with requested enrollment geography data.
