Dallas ISD’s new dual-language program will ‘close the gap’

Dallas ISD will begin teaching math, science and social studies in both English and Spanish as a part of its update to the dual-language program.

The upgrade, coined “Dual Language 2.0,” is expected to go into effect the 2022-23 school year, after a year of planning.

Currently, students in the district’s two-way dual-language program learn math in English and science and social studies in Spanish. This year, 66 elementary schools, five middle schools and four high schools offer the program.

“Recent studies show that teaching math, science and social studies in both English and Spanish closes the gap for students in English much sooner and will give these students a lift,” says Richard Heffernan, the executive director of the bilingual ESL department.

DISD is also planning to double the number of Black students participating in the two-way dual-language program, which has English and Spanish learners in the same classroom, over the next four years.