OSPI NEWS RELEASE: OSPI Awards Grants for Dual Language Programs

Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction sent this bulletin at 10/30/2017 12:21 PM PDT

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State Superintendent Chris Reykdal

OSPI Awards Grants for Dual Language Programs

OLYMPIA—October 30, 2017—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.”

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/School	Amount	Notes
Quileute Tribal School	$19,000	$3,000 bonus for language other than Spanish (Quileute)
Wa He Lut Indian School	19,000	$3,000 bonus for language other than Spanish (Quilshootseed)
Highline	19,000	$3,000 bonus for language other than Spanish (Vietnamese)
Bremerton	16,000	New dual language program
East Valley (Yakima)	16,000	New dual language program
Franklin Pierce	16,000	New dual language program
Mount Vernon	16,000	New dual language program
Bellevue	15,800	Expand dual language programs
Bethel	15,800	Expand dual language programs
Mabton	15,800	Expand dual language programs
Selah	15,800	Expand dual language programs
Wenatchee	15,800	Expand dual language programs

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

Georgetown University study (press release)
Dual Language in Washington state
PESB’s Bilingual Educator Initiative

Contact

Nathan Olson
OSPI Communications Director
360-725-6015

About OSPI

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is the primary agency charged with overseeing K–12 education in Washington state. Led by State Superintendent Chris Reykdal, OSPI works with the state's 295 school districts and nine educational service districts to administer basic education programs and implement education reform on behalf of more than one million public school students.

OSPI provides equal access to all programs and services without discrimination based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability.

Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be directed to the Equity and Civil Rights Director at 360-725-6162 or P.O. Box 47200, Olympia, WA 98504-7200.

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OSPI provides equal access to all programs and services without discrimination based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be directed to the Equity and Civil Rights Director, P.O. Box 47200, Olympia, WA 98504-7200, 360-725-6162 (TTY: 360-664-3631), equity@k12.wa.us.