Dual-Language Immersion Programs
About the Intervention
Dual-language immersion programs provide native English speakers and English learners with general academic instruction in two languages (Spanish, Mandarin, Japanese, or Russian) from kindergarten onward. The programs follow either a 90/10 two-way model (where 90% of instruction in kindergarten is in the partner language, declining by 10 percentage points per grade, serving approximately half native speakers of each language) or a 50/50 one-way model (where 50% of instruction in each core subject occurs in the partner language throughout elementary grades, primarily serving native English speakers). In grades K-3 of two-way programs, students receive 75%-100% of mathematics, 56%-100% of language arts, and 100% of science and social studies instruction in the partner language. In grades 4-5, they receive about 25% of mathematics, 58% of language arts, and 100% of science and social studies in the partner language. Middle school students take one language arts class in English, one in the partner language, and one social studies class in the partner language. Students are admitted through a district-administered lottery process.
Statistical Findings
Positive effect: on reading scores in grade 5
Positive effect: on reading scores in grade 8
Positive effect: on mathematics scores in grade 4
No effect: on mathematics scores in grades 3, 5, 6, 7, 8
No effect: on science scores in grades 5 and 8
Positive effect: on EL reclassification in grades 6 and 7
More Intervention Details
Focus Areas
English LearnersPrograms & Services
Bilingual Education Program, English as a Second Language (ESL) ProgramDelivery Methods
Face-to-FaceDisability Support
N/ATarget Groups
Student(s)Citation
Jennifer, L., Jennifer L., S., Michael, B., Robert O., S., Susan, B., Trey, M. & Zamarro, G. (2017). Effects of Dual-Language Immersion Programs on Student Achievement: Evidence from Lottery Data (ED577026). ERIC. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED577026.pdf.
Study Demographics
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Participant Race
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Participant Gender
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Other Participant Characteristics
Geographical Setting
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