APPLICATION AND COMMITMENT
DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM
OUR VISION
By the end of the program, students in Plano's dual language program will have reached grade level proficiency, linguistically and academically, in the languages of English and Spanish. In addition, students will understand and value the cultural differences that surround them. Students will have a solid foundation upon which they can continue to develop their academic, linguistic, social, and cultural skills.
TWO WAY IMMERSION
P.H. Miller School offers a Two Way Immersion program that begins in Kindergarten. The Dual Language- Two Way Immersion program consists of native English speaking students and native Spanish speaking students. Each year, 20 English speaking students and 20 Spanish speaking students are accepted into the Dual Language -Two Way Immersion program at the kindergarten level. Entrance into the program is based on an evaluation and application process.
Students are only eligible to enter into the Dual Language - Two Way Immersion program at the kindergarten level. If a student is coming from a Dual Language program in another district, he or she will be assessed to determine if the Dual Language program in the Plano School District is the best placement. Placement in the program will be determined on the student's abilities and if space is available. *Please indicate during registration if a student is coming from a Dual Language program in another district.
DUAL LANGUAGE COMMITMENT
Dual Language Program requires a long-term commitment. This commitment was established based on the number of years needed to become proficient in a second language. Plano School District requires that all students, especially those in the Dual Language program, be in school when school is in session. Developing content knowledge and communication skills in two languages is a slow and gradual process. The program is designed based on the process of second language acquisition. The design and goals of the program are such that students will be capable of achieving the same or better than their grade level peers who are not in dual language (based on dual language research and best practice).