Bill would promote dual-language education
Immersion programs said to boost academic proficiency as well as language skills
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Two Providence legislators have proposed a bill to add a position at the Rhode Island Department of Education to coordinate and promote the creation of more dual-language programs in public schools.
Currently, four school districts — Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls and South Kingstown — offer instruction in two languages, typically English and Spanish. The International Charter School in Pawtucket is built on the concept of teaching students in more than one language.
In dual immersion, students spend the morning studying courses in one language and the afternoon in another. Providence has offered dual-language immersion at one of its elementary schools, the Leviton complex, for seven years.
At Wednesday's press conference at the State House, the bill's sponsors, Sen. Frank Ciccone and Rep. Grace Diaz, both Providence Democrats, said that research has shown that students enrolled in dual-language programs are more successful academically than their peers and more likely to attend college.
Erin Papa, past president of the Rhode Island Foreign Language Association, said the bill sets aside $200,000, most of which would pay for a specialist at the education department to lead dual-language initiatives statewide. It would also provide a small amount of seed money to expand existing immersion programs.
"We can do a lot with a little," she said.
Diaz said dual-language programs could go a long way toward closing achievement gaps between native English speakers and English language learners, one of the fastest-growing populations in the Providence schools.
"This would not only level the playing field for English language learners," she said, "but it would help them excel at English."
Ciccone said creating a state-level coordinator is in line with the Department of Education's 2020 strategic plan, which calls for expanding proficiency in multiple languages. The state also offers a certificate of bi-literacy to high school graduates who have demonstrated their fluency in two or more languages.
— lborg@providencejournal.com
(401) 277-7823
On Twitter: @lborgprojocom