Spanish immersion program coming to Milton elementaries

Students at both Milton elementaries will have a chance to habla espanol and English when a new immersion program begins next fall.

“I'm so excited for this program,” said board member Jessica Tyndall. “This is such a positive thing for our district.”

The goal is to have 50 students at each elementary – Milton and H.O. Brittingham – commit to an immersion program starting in kindergarten and going through fifth-grade, said Donna Kolakowski, supervisor of elementary curriculum. Each class would have about 25 students, who would attend all their classes together. Students would receive English and Spanish instruction in core subjects. A new group of 50 students would begin in kindergarten each year, she said. 

“Of course, that number may need to be a bit flexible depending on the total number of students that are enrolled,” she said. “We wouldn't want the nonimmersion classrooms to be too small.”

Teachers at each school would be considered first, and the district would hire more if needed, she said.

Kolakowski said the move to a dual-language program will assist children later, when they look for jobs. Research has also shown that students enrolled in dual-language programs score higher on tests than students in regular classes, she said.

“Cognitive abilities continue to grow because you have worked that side of your brain,” she said, referring to the left side or logical side of the brain.

The Delaware Department of Education approved funding for Cape's immersion program in November. DOE will also help implement the program by providing information from other schools in the state that have immersion programs.

Kolakowski said information will be placed in area kindergartens and day cares, explaining the program to potential students and parents. If more than 50 people at each school sign up, she said, the school will hold a lottery to choose participants. Kolakowski said each class ideally will be half English speakers and the other half native Spanish speakers.

Kolakowski said a survey sent to current students showed there is an interest in the immersion program.

“We feel very certain that we will have students who want to be a part of it,” she said.

Superintendent Robert Fulton said there are plans to continue immersion at the middle schools once students have moved through the elementary program.

“We're hoping to learn from our first group. I'm committed to making this work in all of our schools,” he said.

Board member Roni Posner said she believes the dual-language program will help young students learn lifelong language skills.

“The younger the better,” she said.