The successful Dual Language Immersion Program at Community Park School will be an ongoing initiative in the district, after last month’s unanimous affirmation by the Princeton Public Schools Board of Education.

Started as a pilot initiative at the beginning of the 2015-16 year for sections in kindergarten and first grade, the program expanded to second grade, with 43 kindergarteners, 41 first graders, and 38 second graders. It is scheduled to include K-3 in 2017-18, K-4 in 2018-19, and K-5 with full implementation in 2019-20.

“Dual Language Immersion has made us a better school,” said Community Park principal Dineen Gruchacz. “Our teachers are finding new ways to collaborate, and Spanish has become part of our school’s fabric, woven into our school meetings, morning announcements, and student-led conferences.”

Students in the program, all voluntarily enrolled by their parents, learn half the day in Spanish and half the day in English. Similar to other DLI plans that are becoming increasingly popular throughout the country, the Community Park program has demonstrated advantages for both native and non-native speakers.

In this 50/50 DLI model the students learn Spanish language arts, math, and science in Spanish and social studies and language arts in English. By alternating between the two languages, students develop flexibility and resiliency in thinking and problem solving, as well as gaining fluency in both languages.

“Research supports that the DLI program raises the level of performance for all students across all subjects,” observed superintendent Steve Cochrane. “It is a remarkable program with significant potential to help us close the achievement gap.”

PPS world languages and ESL supervisor Priscilla Russel, who proposed the immersion program after investigating research on the cognitive benefits of bilingualism, noted, “We see a higher level of proficiency in the second language; and there is also evidence of enhanced cognitive skills and improved academic performance.”

School board member Betsy Baglio, who has a child in the DLI program, stated that the program gives students a firsthand awareness of the world beyond Community Park and Princeton. She described it as an excellent example of innovation in the district.

The New Jersey Department of Education has selected Princeton’s DLI as a Model Program.