OSPI Awards Grants for Dual Language Programs

Students who are taught in two languages — English and their home language — learn both languages, as well as the content of the class.

A total of 10 school districts and two tribal compact schools were awarded grants to support K-12 dual language programs, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) announced today.

“These grants will help students learn practically by applying English and a second language to core subjects,” said Chris Reykdal, Superintendent of Public Instruction. “I applaud legislators for understanding this need.”

Supt. Reykdal visits with students in Yakima this past school year.

The grants will be used to help prepare teachers to instruct in the dual language program, to help recruit bilingual teachers, and to purchase supplementary instructional materials. The grants were made possible by Substitute House Bill 1445, passed in 2017.

The awarded districts and the amounts are as follows:

District award amounts rewarded, what each district will do with grant funds.

Reykdal noted a 2015 study authored by members of Georgetown University’s Medical Center. The press release announcing the study said its findings suggest “people who speak two languages have more gray matter in the executive control region of the brain.” That region helps with organizing tasks and regulating behavior, among other functions.

“There is a need for all students to learn two languages,” Reykdal said. “In my six-year vision for restructuring K-12 education in Washington state, I call for all students to learn a second language, and to begin that learning in kindergarten, if not earlier. Knowing how to communicate in multiple languages, especially in our increasingly diverse and globally interdependent world, is crucial to student success beyond high school.”

Total funding for the program, called the K-12 Dual Language Grant Program, is $900,000 for 2017–19. The funding will be split between OSPI and the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) for their Bilingual Educator Initiative.

For more information

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The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Led by Supt. Chris Reykdal, OSPI is the primary agency charged with overseeing K–12 education in Washington state.