TPS expanding dual language program
TULSA, OK – Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) will expand its dual language program offerings in the 2020-2021 school year, adding dual language programming at Disney Elementary, expanding dual language programming at Kendall-whittier Elementary, and launching a multilingual junior high content language pathway at Will Rogers College Junior High. The district currently offers dual language programming at: Kendall Whittier Elementary School, Skelly Elementary School, Sequoyah Elementary School, Springdale Elementary School, Celia Clinton Elementary School, Dual Language Academy, Henry Zarrow International, and Eisenhower International as well as language immersion classes at Carver Middle School and Thoreau Demonstration Academy.
“We know that student access to multilingual education correlates with higher academic achievement and expanded college and career opportunities,” said Superintendent Deborah A. Gist. “We also know that Tulsa families want dual language learning opportunities for their children, so we’re excited to expand our programs to meet that need.”
Disney Elementary will begin offering a two-way dual language program in the fall of 2020. The school has 40 dual language pre-k spots available for next school year. Students will have the opportunity to continue in the dual language program through 5th grade. Students in the dual language program will learn to read in their stronger language first, while they develop academic language skills and literacy in both English and Spanish. The program offers core subjects such as science and social studies in Spanish, and math in English for students to develop proficiency in both languages through academic vocabulary and content skills. For more information about dual language at Disney, visit www.tulsaschools.org/disneyduallanguage.
In the 2020-2021 school year, Kendall-whittier Elementary will begin the transition from a one-way dual language school to a twoway dual language school; and all pre-k and kindergarten classrooms will become dual language classrooms. Every year, the two-way dual language program will expand a grade. Eventually, Kendall-whittier will become the district’s first twoway dual language pre-k through 5th grade neighborhood school. Currently, students in the school’s one-way dual language program are 100% Spanish dominant speakers and are taught in English and Spanish. The two-way dual language program will allow students to learn to read in their stronger language first, while they develop academic skills in both English and Spanish. For more information about dual language at Kendall-whittier, visit www.tulsaschools.org/kendallwhittierduallanguage.
Will Rogers College Junior High will launch the Spanish language content pathway for dual language students entering 6th grade and 7th grade in the 20202021 school year. The program will offer content core subjects like math, science or social studies in Spanish for students to continue to develop their language acquisition skills and academic vocabulary. For more information about dual language at Will Rogers College Junior High, visit www.tulsaschools.org/rogersduallanguage.
For the past seven years, Tulsa Public Schools has expanded its multilingual programs at the elementary level. The district currently has language programs at Kendall Whittier Elementary School, Skelly Elementary School, Sequoyah Elementary School, Springdale Elementary School, Celia Clinton Elementary School, Dual Language Academy, Henry Zarrow International, and Eisenhower International. Tulsa Public Schools will offer dual language programming at 10 schools starting in the 2020-2021 school year with the addition of Disney Elementary and Will Rogers College Junior High and has plans to expand to other neighborhood schools in the future.
Dual language education is for all families: English speakers, Spanish speakers, speakers of other languages, and multilingual families. For more information on the district’s dual language programming, go to www.tulsaschools.org/duallanguage.