Students and parents praise Eau Claire dual-immersion program as district seeks Seal of Biliteracy

Parents and students used the board's public forum to highlight the district's dual-immersion (DLI) program and the district's work to secure the Wisconsin Seal of Biliteracy for graduates.

Sarah Peterson, a parent, said the district is preparing and submitting a lengthy application to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and that ‘‘once that's approved, hopefully it's in the next couple months, they should be ready to implement it.’’ She described the Seal of Biliteracy as an industry-recognized credential that validates advanced bilingual skills across speaking, reading, writing and listening and signals socio-cultural competence.

Students in the program described classroom activities and outcomes. Rio Peterson, a sixth grader, said dual immersion enabled connections with Spanish-speaking peers, celebrations of cultural events like Dia de los Muertos, and aspirations to continue in the program through high school. Ryan Marr, another sixth grader, said he now tests at levels expected of older students and hopes to earn the Seal of Biliteracy and apply language skills in future scholarship and career opportunities.

Parent Dani Marr described sending children to immersion as a "leap of faith" that paid off; she credited teachers and program leaders for student confidence and cultural competence.

Speakers said an implementation plan exists inside the district but that formal authorization from DPI is still pending. No board action occurred during public comment; the district's next steps are to complete the DPI application and implement the plan once approved.