- April 23, 2024
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by: Kelly Schulz
Director, Community Information, Volusia County Schools
Volusia County Schools announced its first-ever Dual Language Program for the 2022-23 School Year for elementary students at Holly Hill K-8 and Spirit Elementary. The Dual Language program will offer English-speaking and Spanish-speaking students a unique, enriching, and challenging educational opportunity to read, write, and communicate effectively in English and Spanish while achieving high levels of academic success.
Unlike traditional language programs, VCS's Dual Language program will allow students to acquire the languages naturally and experience continuous opportunities for meaningful interactions and practice. Students will have bilingual skills and cross-cultural competencies necessary for an ever-changing global society and economy. Research shows that acquiring a second language at an early age enhances intellectual growth by improving performance on standardized tests and is linked to higher overall grade averages and attendance.
Certified teachers selected for the Dual Language program are proficient in the targeted languages, giving equal status to both languages. Students will receive the rigorous core curriculum instruction required by the Florida Department of Education and will take the state's required standardized tests.
Parents who commit to the program will give their child a head start to a promising future. Students who master a foreign language and effectively become bilingual are boosted towards future career and economic success. Job seekers who speak another language have a distinct advantage in today's competitive job market. The American Council on Teaching of Foreign languages stated in 2019 that Spanish is the most in-demand foreign language reported by U.S. employers.
Parents will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about Volusia County Schools’ innovative language program at the dual language program orientations:
Families with students in PreK-5 or K-5 who are interested in more information can contact the ESOL office at (386) 734-7190, extension 23070.
