1. Is there equity for all students?
Dual Language Immersion Program School Administrators Speak Up – A National Study of Dual Language Immersion Programs
Is there equity for all students?
Patricia Espinoza Fernandez, Ed.D.
CABE Conference 2016

2. Dual language immersion programs in the U.S. : Growing Models
We know…
Dual language immersion programs in the U.S. :
Growing
Models
Academic achievement
Equity and access issues exist
Dual Language Immersion programs have become increasingly popular over the past forty years in the US and students typically outperform their counterparts . Extensive research has shown students enrolled in Dual Language Immersion models yield high academic achievement. This study expands on current research that suggests there are issues of equity and access in programs that offer Dual Language Immersion.

3. Statement of Significance
Dual Language Immersion (DLI) literature review over the past 40 years suggests various DLI models have been implemented successfully in the the U.S. Yet… little is known regarding School Administrators who lead Dual Language Immersion programs. We know… school administrators report they experience challenges when leading DLI programs.
Professional development for teachers and Administrators!
Stakeholders report knowing where these programs are located and getting a seat in these programs is very difficult

4. “The principal is a key player in making the model happen as planned.”
School Leadership
“The principal is a key player in making the model happen as planned.”
Collier & Thomas, The Astounding Effectiveness of Dual Language Education for All, 2004
Collier and Thomas’ report one challenge dual language immersion schools face is its school leadership.
A school can fulfill no higher purpose than to teach all its members that they can make what they believe in happen.
Roland S. Barth

5. Research Design
Study participants were school administrators with expertise leading dual language immersion programs in U.S.
498 school administrators total pool
132 respondents
Mixed Methods
Surveys
Interviews

6. Procedures Permissions / Recruitment Data Collection Data Management
Center for Applied Linguistics’ Directory of Two Way Bilingual Immersion Programs in the U.S.
Data Collection
link -> Survey at Qualtrics
Informed Consent
DLI School Administrator Interviews
Data Management
Database of schools offering DLI programs nationally was created
Survey created for this research
17 items
+/-10 minutes to complete confidential survey
School demographics
DLI student demographics
DLI program model
DLI targeted languages of instruction
DLI program strengths and challenges
Interviews conducted for this research
10 DL school administrators interviewed

7. Which states participated in this national study?
Considering switching out this slide and making it into a poster instead….

8. Who participated in this study?
School Administrators who self-reported they had dual language immersion programs in grades K-12 in U.S.
10% self-identified as monolingual English speaking
90% self-identified as bilingual English + speak, read and write in one or more languages
94% described themselves as familiar with their DLI program admission process

9. Findings
Dual Language Immersion School Administrators report their programs are experiencing:
equity and access challenges
funding challenges
staffing challenges
social political tensions
collaboration challenges
resource challenges
policy and accountability challenges

10. Equity and Access Challenges
Who is hearing about being DLI opportunities
Who is being served
Who is not being served
Students living in low socioeconomic communities
Capital (economic, social…)

11. Funding Challenges
No funding earmarked for dual language immersion program implementation or sustainability.
State pipeline in California?

12. Staffing
DLI programs need highly qualified, bilingual teachers who are qualified to teach dual language immersion classes.
Critical demand for teachers certain languages ie. Mandarin

13. Social Political Tensions
General unwillingness to share resources
Competition amongst programs on campuses where strand programs are implemented

14. Collaboration Challenges
Limited opportunity for collaboration
Between language programs
Between language programs and mainstream programs

15. Resource Challenges
Need for greater support from district administration and personnel.
Instructional resources
Quality target language
translations
Facilities
Funding

16. Policy and Accountability Challenges
Lack or non-existent local and federal accountability alignment to dual language immersion programs.

17. Summing up the Findings
Characteristics of Leadership
Socio-political tensions
Funding
Resources
Support
Characteristics of Dual Language School Administrators in the U.S. There are more dual language immersion school administrators leading DLI programs who are bilingual in two or more languages than those who are monolingual.
Dual language immersion school administrators reported school culture issues and socio-political tensions exist between immersion and non-immersion personnel.
As immersion programs grow, funding is needed for campus facility enhancements, other resources and support, i.e., professional development does not follow.

18. Recommendations Curriculum and assessment
Address socio-political tensions
Funding
Strengthen university dual language ed leadership programs & district partnerships
Create a Triangular Collaborative Model between University Leadership Program, County Office of Education, and Dual Language and English Learner Education Department (DLE)
Create a local, state, national consortium of dual language Administrators
Continued language education professional development for administrators

19. Next Steps It’s time stakeholders take action.
This is the current reality in our country – what is your district’s and program’s DLI current reality?
How might this information be helpful to DLI programs being designed now?

20. Dual language immersion education means global communication and increased opportunities for all!

21. Acknowledgments