Dual Language

Students who are zoned to attend New Hope Elementary that will be enrolling in Kindergarten will have the option to enroll in the DL program.  We can accommodate up to 48 total students in the program.  Students may begin expressing interest in enrolling in the DL program in February when we begin making appointments for Kindergarten Registration.  Families can expect confirmation on participation in the DL program in August when all students receive their classroom placements. 

These programs group native speakers of English and native speakers of Spanish together offering the opportunity for all to become bilingual, biliterate and bicultural.  Instruction is provided both in English and in Spanish on alternate days.  The model we will use at NHE is a 50/50 model so that equal instruction is provided in both English and Spanish.  

We have two classrooms at each grade level that participate in the DL program.  For the 2025-2026 school year we will have classes in Kindergarten through 5th grade.

Students will study all subjects in each language including Literacy, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Writing. Students will also continue to participate in specials classes like media, guidance, music, art, physical education, and STEM.

Teachers will continue to follow the NC Common Core Standards, Essential State Standards, WIDA’s Spanish Language Arts Standards, and the NC Essential State Standards for Dual Language.

Yes. All of these services are available to students in the dual language program and the process for qualifying for these services is the same as it is for students in traditional classes. These services would be provided in English.

A bilingual person has the ability to communicate and interact with more people from around the world.  Becoming bilingual gives students the skills and knowledge to function competently in a global society.  Students in a DL Program experience higher academic, cognitive, social and future benefits when compared to students who participate in all English classes.

Academic benefits:

• Higher academic achievement in school
• Higher levels of second language proficiency
• Higher results on state and standardized tests

Cognitive benefits:

• Higher levels of critical thinking and problem solving skills
• Higher flexible thinking abilities and enhanced creativity
• Increased ability to concentrate

Social benefits:

• Greater understanding of other cultures
• Greater acceptance of others
• Greater appreciation of personal heritage

Economic benefits:

• Increased opportunity and ability to fulfill language requirements for high school and university
• Increased employment opportunities

Many parents are initially fearful that dual language instruction may have a negative impact on their child’s English language development. But research consistently finds that the experience actually enhances English language development (Cloud, Genesee, & Hamayan, 2000).