Jefferson County School District’s dual language program in third school year

The Jefferson County School District’s dual language program is now in its third school year working in both the Madras and Buff elementary schools. Now, administrators are thinking about how to expand the program for middle school students. How the program changed Originally, Mariposa Dual Language School, housed at the Jefferson County Middle, was used to give students who speak both English and Spanish as a first language access to instruction in both languages. Half the school day was taught in Spanish and the other half in English. After two years, the program expanded into the two elementary schools. Sandra Ruiz teaches a second grade class in the dual-language program at Buff Elementary School and she sees the current dual-language program having an academic benefit to students regardless of their first language. Ruiz said that students can struggle initially, but they do on average eventually surpass their peers who are not in dual-language programs in test scores.

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