1. From Vision to Implementation:
Delaware World Language Immersion
Supporting Student Learning by Supporting Teacher Growth
F-CAP Symposium 2013
06/07/2013
From Vision to Implementation:
Delaware’s Focus on “Providing Students with a World of Advantages”
WHY DELAWARE?
Cigna Story (Late 2010)
Ms. Lynn Fulton-Archer
Education Specialist, World Language Immersion
Delaware Department of Education
Lynn Fulton-Archer, Ed. Specialist, World Language Immersion 1

2. “A world of advantages”
“In today’s educational landscape, it is imperative for Delaware students to have the skills necessary to compete in a global economy. Learning a second language will offer our children an advantage in this increasingly competitive world.” Jack Markell, Governor of the State of Delaware
WHY DELAWARE?
Delaware students lag considerably behind their Asian and European peers when it comes to beginning learning additional languages.
Delaware graduates who enter the job market without the ability to speak a world language other than English are at a significant disadvantage.
A well-educated, multilingual workforce will give Delaware an economic edge over other states in the nation.
Delaware is
a corporate hub for more than half of the world’s Fortune 500 companies
the heart of the banking and credit card industry
a center for research and development in pharmaceuticals, chemicals and biotechnology
an international leader in a global exchange of commerce and ideas
Strategic coordination by Delaware’s educational and governmental leadership. The Governor’s Office, the Office of Management and Budget, the Delaware Department of Education and Delaware’s school districts

3. World Language Expansion Initiative
Governor’s World Language Expansion Initiative: Preparing a Globally Competitive Delaware Workforce (2011)
10-year initiative
Elementary Immersion
Middle School Courses
High School Graduation Requirement
HOW ARE WE DOING IT IN DELAWARE?
“It takes a village to raise an immersion program”
Strategic coordination by Delaware’s educational and governmental leadership
The Governor’s Office
The Office of Management and Budget,
The Delaware Department of Education
Delaware’s school districts
New 5-yr Strategic Plan
Re-engaging some of our initial stakeholders
Strengthening relationships with business community

4. Current Programs Program Growth Delaware Immersion Overview
Brandywine
Red Clay
Christina
Colonial
Appoquinimink
Smyrna
Capital
Caesar Rodney
Lake Forest
Woodbridge
Seaford
Delmar
Laurel
Indian River
Cape Henlopen
Milford
Current Programs
60% of eligible districts
17% of elementary schools
4% of elementary students
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Program Growth
2014: students
2015: students
2016: students
WHERE ARE WE DOING IT IN DELAWARE?
Immersion by the numbers
60% of our school districts >> Target 75%
20% of our elementary schools >> Target 20%
In august 4% of elementary students will be enrolled in immersion
On track for over 10% of elementary students in immersion by 2020
Students
1400 students in Chinese, Spanish
Grades K through 2 (“pilot” 3rd grade)
Number will triple in the next three years

5. Increasing Capacity – Areas of Focus
Instruction
Curriculum
Leadership
HOW ARE WE DOING IT IN DELAWARE?
Investment in Human Capital
Four-fold increase in World Language staff at the Delaware Department of Education
Dedicated Funding Allocation
Line-item Funding for K-12 World Language Programs
External Contractors who are experts in bilingualism, proficiency development, and program models
Creation of Recommended Curriculum
Thematic Frameworks and Pacing Guides to support proficiency targets for each grade and course

6. Bilingual Learners (10,000) District Capacity School Capacity
Increasing Capacity - A Multi-Faceted Approach
District Capacity
School Capacity
Classroom Capacity
HOW ARE WE DOING IT IN DELAWARE?
District Capacity
Identification of Exemplars
Consortium-building efforts and networking (IPAC)
Collaboration across content areas
School Capacity
New Principal Institute in the planning phase
“Immersion Primer” for administrators
Classroom Capacity
Pull-out and Push-in professional development (ADII, Quarterly PD)
Literacy Curriculum Maps
Instructional Specialist Support (General observation, requested support, focused coaching)
Bilingual Learners (10,000)

7. School Profiles Learner Outcomes (K-1)
Delaware Immersion Schools and Learners
School Profiles
All immersion schools are Title I
60% of immersion schools with more than 60% of student population identified as low income
62% of immersion students identified as low income
Learner Outcomes (K-1)
62% of immersion students performed better than their traditional counterparts on ELA benchmarks
WHO BENEFITS IN DELAWARE?
Student Demographics
Title 1 status determined by district
6 of 11 current school locations are majority low SES (62% to 82% of students)
Overall immersion demographics tend to be more diverse than statewide demographics (Low SES: I=62%, S=38% / AA: I=32%, S=31% / Lat: I=41, S=15)
Learner Outcomes
Even at these early stages of implementation…
Performing as well in ELA with only half the day of instruction in ELA
Performing as well in Math
Performing on par with traditional counterparts in Science, Social Studies

8. South Dover Elementary
Delaware Immersion Schools and Learners
South Dover Elementary
63% low SES
66% African-American
9% Latino
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Academic Performance
Benchmark ELA: On-level 84% of immersion vs 74% traditional
Benchmark Math: On-level 79% of immersion vs 78% traditional
WHO BENEFITS IN DELAWARE?
DIBELS ELA assessment
Kinder Immersion 38 (84%) Core 6 (13%) Strategic 1 (2%) Intensive
Kinder Non-immersion 68 (74%) Core 15 (16%) Strategic 8 8%) Intensive
M-CLASS Math Assessment (district developed)
“At South Dover, it was noted by the entire Kindergarten Team last year that the Immersion students seemed to have deeper conceptual knowledge in mathematics than their non-Immersion peers. They were better able to demonstrate (and communicate) understanding of whole-part relationships, including number sense;  and other mathematical relationships, such as more and less.  Perhaps it was the “extra”  metacognition that was needed as they translated in their heads.”

9. Continued Reflection and Growth
“Delaware is like a test tube. We’re small enough to drop in an idea, shake things up a little bit, and something is bound to happen.”