en español

The Dual Language program in ACPS is designed for families who would like their children to learn another language while receiving the same high quality academic curriculum as students throughout the division. ACPS offers K-5 Spanish-English two-way dual language programs at John Adams Elementary School and Mount Vernon Community School.

Dual Language programs are a form of enrichment education based on over forty years of research showing the advantages of learning a second language through academic content instruction. The Spanish-English two-way immersion form of dual language is characterized as follows:

• Approximately half of students are from Spanish-speaking homes and half from homes in which English (or another language) is spoken
• Instruction integrates literacy and academic content knowledge in both languages
• Curriculum focuses on challenging, age-appropriate academic skills and knowledge aligned to high standards for all students

In keeping with the vision of ACPS, the Dual Language Program aims to become an international model of excellence in two-way immersion education. The mission of the Dual Language Program is to provide an enriched bilingual, biliterate, and culturally competent educational experience for all students.

The goals of the program are for students to:

• listen, speak, read and write in two (or more) languages
• attain high levels of academic and social-emotional competence
• become lifelong cross-cultural learners and critical thinkers