Delaware’s language immersion program hits 57 schools – How’s it going?
Delaware’s state-wide immersion program includes 13 schools with Mandarin immersion programs with about 1,300 students.
Delaware Public Radio
With nearly 10,000 students currently enrolled and new grades still being added, Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs are solidifying their position in Delaware’s public-school landscape.
Announced in 2011 by former Gov. Jack Markell and launched as a pilot program in three schools the following year, DLI programs offering either Spanish or Chinese are now operating in 12 of the 15 school districts that serve the elementary grades (all but Lake Forest, Laurel and Woodbridge). Two charter schools, Las Americas Aspira and Academia Antonia Alonso, offer Spanish immersion, and Odyssey Charter has the state’s only Greek immersion program.
Growth has been steady – from the original three schools to 29 in 2017 to 57 this year. Spanish is offered in 46 schools to about 8,500 students, Chinese in 13 to about 1,300. (Three schools offer immersion in both languages.)
Please read more here.
Some info here on the Delaware language immersion model.
Resources for the Delaware DLI Model
The resources linked below provide additional information and details about the Delaware Dual Language Immersion Model, K-12 program articulation, and implementation expectations:
- Delaware K-12 Dual Language Immersion Overview
- Delaware K-8 Dual Language Immersion Content Allocation Charts
- Delaware DLI Program Assurances – Elementary
- Delaware DLI Program Assurances – Middle School
- Delaware DLI Program Assurances – High School/Bridge Program
- Middle School Immersion Advisory Committee Summative Report
- High School Immersion Advisory Committee Summative Report
Mandarin Immersion Parents Council 