Dual Immersion: Powerful and Relevant
This year GUSD will continue and expand the Sobrato Early
Academic Language (SEAL) program at Eliot and Glenview
Elementary schools, and begin the program in three more
schools, Antonio Del Buono, El Roble and Rucker.
According to the Sobrato Organization, more than 25 percent
of youth entering Santa Clara County’s public schools are
English language learners and historically, they’ve encountered
higher dropout rates than their English-speaking classmates.
Sobrato developed the program to help teachers address this
challenge. Sobrato Early Academic Language (SEAL) pro-
vides a model of teacher development and program design
to help kindergarten through third grade students achieve
age- appropriate literacy in English and Spanish, and grade-
level mastery of academic material. SEAL is also aligned with
Common Core standards.
Superintendent Flores described SEAL as “a rigorous,
high-quality program” and added that Sobrato Philanthropies
contributed “a large part of the funds to implement the
program in kindergarten through third grade classes” at
GUSD elementary schools.
Glen View’s Principal, Corina Sapien, said the SEAL program
has been transformational.
“When I walk into classrooms I see students interacting,
conducting investigations, creating art, and most of all, I see
their joy. We have redefined our expectations about what
kindergarten and first grade students can do. They are learning
material and vocabulary that many of us once learned in middle
or high school. The true test of a student’s learning is the ability
to explain or teach what they’ve learned to others, and that
is exactly what our kids do. At the end of each unit, parents
are invited to the classroom to be ‘taught’ by their children.
It’s amazing to see our young students teaching their parents
about the food chain and using words like phytoplankton and
exoskeleton!”
There was a time when public perception was that dual
immersion was a “nice to have” element in our schools. Some
considered it a burden on the education system. The reality,
especially for California, is quite the opposite. By ethnicity,
close to 40 percent of our state’s total population is Hispanic-
Latino (of any race), making it our largest single ethnic group.
Spanish is the state’s second most spoken language. And
language is fundamental to all learning. When we put things
in proper context, it’s easy to see that dual immersion schools
benefit our students, their families, our communities and
our workforce.
GUSD schools in the Dual Immersion Program have
implemented a 50/50 model whereby all students are immersed
in English for half the day and in Spanish for the other half
of the day. The focus is on communication, cooperation and
collaboration as teachers provide instruction and students learn
in two languages. As a result of this program, the Academic
Performance Index shows continuously increased achievement
scores in English for over ten years.
Every year, the California School Boards Association (CSBA)
recognizes educational programs that exemplify highly-effective
governance, teaching, and student learning through its Golden
Bell Award program. CSBA recognized GUSD for achievement
in K-12 dual immersion programs for 2015-16.
GUSD school principals receiving the prestigious award were:
Silvia Reyes, Las Animas Elementary; Luis Carrillo, Rod Kelley
Elementary; Anisha Munshi, South Valley Middle School; and
Marco Sanchez, Gilroy High School.
Dr. Deborah Flores,
Superintendent of the Gilroy
Unified School District, received
the Association of California
School Administrators (ACSA)
“Superintendent of the Year”
Award (2016). She will receive
her award at ACSA’s annual
Leadership Summit in San Diego,
November 10-12, 2016
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GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016
gmhtoday.com
MORGAN
Sobrato Early Academic Language Program