Dual Language+ Program (TK - Gr 6)
OVERVIEW:
| Grade | Schools |
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Transitional Kinder
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Duff (Chinese) | Hillcrest (Chinese) |
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Kindergarten
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Dewey (Spanish) | Duff (Chinese) | Hillcrest (Chinese) |
| Grades 1-6 | Dewey (Spanish) | Duff (Chinese) | Hillcrest (Chinese) |
We are currently accepting applications for KINDER - GRADE 6 NEW STUDENTS ONLY (enrolled three weeks or less). TK Applications are no longer being accepted for 2025-26.
Acceptance depends upon space availability (and passing a language assessment in target language for Grade 1-6 students). To check space availability for a specific grade/school, please email [email protected].
Apply for the 2025-26 School Year (click on blue button below):
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We will begin accepting applications in mid-January 2026 for all 2026-27 TK through Grade 6 students. Complete the Interest Form below to be notified when applications (and parent information meeting dates - optional) become available:
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Students develop simultaneous proficiency in English AND a target language. The target languages offered are Spanish and Chinese Mandarin.
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Additionally, students experience a third language as a during the day enrichment to promote cultural exposure and appreciation.
 2024-25 Parent Information Meeting
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- 21st Century Competencies
Research indicates that students in dual language programs experience lasting cognitive, academic, linguistic, socio-cultural and economic benefits. They develop a high level of proficiency in the target language and English beginning in Kindergarten through high school, develop a high level of cognitive proficiency, attain advanced academic standards, and develop positive attitudes and appreciation toward their own ethnic identity and world cultures.
- District & State Vision
To lead effectively in a global society, students need to be equipped with cognitive, social-emotional, cultural and linguistic competencies – a vision of both the Garvey School District and the state of California (“Global California 2030”).
- Community Support
Majority of students in the Garvey School District has a home language other than English. They bring to school rich language and cultural assets that can be further developed to attain bilingualism and bi-literacy through the Dual Language+ Program.
- The Spanish & English+ Program follows a 90:10 model, enhanced with an additional third language (Chinese) experience offered during the school for approximately 30 minutes for 2 days a week.
- The 90:10 model is used because Spanish and English share a similar alphabetic system; therefore, there is a more immediate transfer of instruction between languages.
- The percent (%) of time spent for instruction in Spanish and English varies across grade levels. In Kindergarten, 90% of time is spent for instruction in Spanish and 10% in English. The amount of time in Spanish decreases annually by 10 percent until a 50:50 balance is achieved in 4th grade.
- The Chinese & English+ Program follows a 50:50 model, enhanced with an additional third language (Spanish) experience offered during the school for approximately 30 minutes for 2 days a week.
- The 50:50 model is selected because Chinese uses a non-alphabetic system so the language transfer takes longer.
- Therefore, there is an equal emphasis on both languages and the amount of time spent for each language is 50 percent in all grade levels.
Dewey Avenue Elementary School
Program:
- Spanish/English Dual Language Program, and
- Chinese Enrichment Program (approx. two 30-minute sessions/week) to develop appreciation for Chinese language and culture through visual and performing arts
Schedule:
8:20 am - 2:35 pm (during school day)
Phone #: (626) 307-3341
Duff Language Magnet Academy
Program:- Chinese (Mandarin)/English Dual Language Program, and
- Spanish Enrichment Program (approx. two 30-minute sessions/week) to develop appreciation for Spanish language and culture through visual and performing arts
Schedule: 8:20 am - 2:35 pm (during school day)
Phone #: (626) 927-5757
Hillcrest Elementary School
Program:- Chinese (Mandarin)/English Dual Language Program, and
- Spanish Enrichment Program (approx. two 30-minute sessions/week) to develop appreciation for Spanish language and culture through visual and performing arts
Schedule: 8:20 am - 2:35 pm (during school day)
Phone #: (626) 307-3371
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Application Form: Interested applicants complete and submit the Transitional Kindergarten DL Program Application Form
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Consultation Meeting: Parents will be contacted via phone by early March to schedule a consultation meeting. At the consultation meeting, district staff will discuss the program details and additional information/documentation required to complete the application process.
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Program Acceptance Notification: Applicants will receive final notification by early April on program acceptance.
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Online Enrollment: Parents will be invited to a follow-up meeting to provide assistance to to complete the online enrollment process.
The TK Chinese Dual Language Program is a specially-designed program and its success is built upon the alignment among program design, student characteristics, and parent commitment. To ensure proper program placement and most importantly, student success, the following criteria will be used to determine the applicant’s program acceptance.
- Parent Commitment & Support
- Participation in Dual Language parent orientation and parent workshop events
- Support the child in the acquisition of the target language and English
- Volunteer for the program as the parent schedule permits
- Student’s Commitment: Students make persistent efforts to meet program requirements
- Student’s Age (for TK): Priorities will be given to applicants eligible for TK at the start of the school year. (Applicants at a younger age will be examined on an individual basis only if there is available space and the applicant passes a socio-emotional/language assessment).
- Timely Submission of Program Participation Application: If there are more applications than available spaces, priority will be given to applicants on a first come, first served basis.
*Program Reassignment: The District will monitor the progress of the students accepted to the Dual Language program and a reassignment to the “English Only” program may become necessary for students who demonstrate extensive challenges in the Dual Language program.
The Dual Language Plus Program is a specially-designed program and its success is built upon the alignment among program design, student characteristics, and parent commitment. To ensure proper program placement and most importantly, student success, the following criteria will be used to determine the applicant’s program acceptance.
o Parent Commitment & Support
- Participation in Dual Language Plus parent orientation and parent workshop events
- Support the child in the acquisition of the target language and English
- Support the during the school "Plus" Enrichment Program
- Volunteer for the program as the parent schedule permits
- Commitment to the entire duration of the program. It takes at least 5 to 7 years to develop intermediate fluency in academics in a target language.
o Student’s Commitment: Students make persistent efforts to meet program requirements.
o Student’s Age: Priorities will be given to applicants eligible for K at the start of the school year. (TK aged applicants will be examined on an individual basis only if there is available space and the applicant passes a socio-emotional/language assessment.)
o Timely Submission of Program Participation Application: If there are more applications than available spaces, priority will be given to applicants on a first come, first served basis.
*Program Reassignment: The District will monitor the progress of the students accepted to the Dual Language Plus program and a reassignment to the “English Only” program may become necessary for students who demonstrate extensive challenges in the Dual Language program, particularly in the first few years of program placement.
All criteria above, plus:
o Student’s Language Proficiency: Applicants for the Grades 1-6 Dual Language Plus program are required to take language proficiency tests in Spanish or Chinese and demonstrate grade-appropriate language readiness for the Dual Language Plus program to be accepted into the program.
o Space Availability: There are very limited spaces available for the Dual Language Plus program in Grades 1-6. Acceptance of qualified applicants to the Grades 1-6 Dual Language Plus program will be determined by the availability of space for the requested grade level
and/or school.
Special Enrollment Instructions for Dual Language+ Program Applicants (Dewey, Duff or Hillcrest)
Please DO NOT complete online enrollment until you receive notification on the status of your Dual Language+ Program application. When you receive the program acceptance notification, you will also receive special instructions on how to complete online enrollment for the Dual Language+ Program. (Note: Improper online enrollment may delay the acceptance of your child to the program.)
Regardless of the outcome of your Dual Language+ Program application, please be assured that there will always be space availability for your child in the regular program at Garvey School District.
Dual Language+ Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)