Parent petitions for dual-language education

Dripping Springs ISD does not have a two-way, dual-language program. Some parents are trying to change that.

Dual language programs have become more common in the United States in recent years, helping students to become bilingual, biliterate and bi-cultural. These programs are often used to help English language learners to become fluent by teaching in both English and the learner’s native language. However, despite being known for its high-quality education and diverse offerings, DSISD offers few options for dual language programs.

Until recently, DSISD’s only bilingual offering for ELL students was an Early Exit Bilingual Program, a program designed to transfer a student to English-only instruction between two and five years after the student enrolls.

DSISD began a one way dual language program five years ago, housed at Dripping Springs Elementary School. The program began with kindergarten students in 2017 and added a grade level each school year since, according to Marcia Holsonbake, bilingual/ESL program coordinator for DSISD. No other school in the district has such a program.

While a one-way dual language program will still help English language learners, a two-way dual language program would help both ELL students and native English speakers to become fluent in each other’s languages. Studies have also shown that two-way bilingual programs can be more effective, according to the Social Science Research Network.

A petition for establishing a two-way program was created and shared by parent Krysten Vasquez via a Facebook post on Wednesday, May 4. Five days later, the petition had received well over 200 signatures.

“My son currently attends EHAT (Escuela Hispanoamericana de Texas), a Spanish immersion daycare, in Dripping Springs,” Vasquez said. “When I started to look into what the dual language program looked like at DSISD, I was surprised to find out that we currently do not offer a two-way dual language or immersion program at any DSISD elementary school.”

When Vasquez reached out to district representatives, she said she was initially told that the district had no plans to add such a program. However, Holsonbake said the district does have loose plans for a two-way program in the future.

“Although the idea of implementing a two-way, dual-language program has come up in various conversations, it is extremely important to the district that we excel in our one-way program before adding or converting to a two-way program,” she explained. “Implementation of a two-way, dual-language program is definitely in DSISD's future, but at this time I cannot give you a definite date. Having taught in both program types, I have first hand experience in how important a solid foundation is to the long term success in either program.”