Goals

Dual language immersion programs provide students with a differentiated, challenging, and engaging experience that supports the goals of dual language education:

• bilingualism and biliteracy development in Spanish and English,
• high academic achievement in all content areas in both languages,
• increased multiculturalism, and
• high levels of sociocultural competence.

Program Overview

In accordance with ESSA and TAC 89.1205, Prosper ISD provides two dual language immersion programs: 

• Dual Language Immersion (DLI) One-Way in PreKindergarten
• Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Two-Way in Grades K-5

DLI programs build on a student’s first language, no matter what the language, to develop deep academic language proficiency, content knowledge and skills, and enhanced cognitive development. DLI program participants receive instruction in literacy and academic content in Spanish as well as English from appropriately certified teachers. At least half of the instruction is delivered in Spanish for the duration of the program. One-way models serve English learners only. Two-way models include English learners as well as participation of English proficient students learning Spanish.  To learn more about the two Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Programs in Prosper ISD, please visit the specific program pages.

Prosper ISD offers a bilingual PreKindergarten program for English Learners with a primary language of Spanish. Primary language, also referred to as native language, is defined as the language or dialect first learned by an individual or first used by the parent/guardian with their child.

The Prosper ISD PreK bilingual program is a Dual Language Immersion One-Way program. This program model provides ongoing instruction in literacy and academic content in the students' primary language of Spanish as well as English, with a majority of the instruction delivered in Spanish during the PreK year.  It is a 90:10 dual language program, meaning students are receiving almost all of their instruction in Spanish.

In order to qualify for the PISD Dual Language Immersion One-Way PreK Program, students must:

• reside within Prosper ISD boundaries
• be 4 years of age on or before September 1st of the enrolling school year
• complete the Prosper ISD PreK prequalification form located on the Pre-K Program website
• score Limited English Proficient on the state language assessment to be identified as an English learner
• have a primary/native language of Spanish
• accept bilingual services to be placed in the PreK Dual Language Immersion Program

To read more about the process of identifying English learners and participation in a bilingual program, see TEA's Bilingual Education Program Flowchart in English or Spanish. 

Prosper ISD offers a Dual Language Immersion Two-Way program for identified students in Grades Kindergarten through 5th grade. In a Two-Way program model, a balanced number of native English speakers (Spanish learners) and native Spanish speakers (English learners) are integrated for instruction so that both groups of students serve in the role of language model and language learner at different times.  Both literacy and content are taught in both Spanish and English over the course of the K-5 program.

The Prosper ISD Dual Language Immersion Two-Way Program is a 50:50 sequential literacy program, meaning students receive 50% of their instruction in all content areas in English and 50% in Spanish, according to Prosper ISD's Content Allocation Plan.

English Learner Eligibility:

In order to be eligible to participate in the program as an English learner, students must 1) score "Limited English Proficient" on the state language assessment, 2) have a primary/native language of Spanish as evidenced by a Spanish language assessment, and 3) accept bilingual services to be placed in the PISD Dual Language Immersion Two-Way Program. To read more about the process of identifying English learners and participation in a bilingual program, see TEA's Bilingual Education Program Flowchart in English or Spanish. 

Spanish Learner Eligibility:

Limited spaces are available in the Dual Language Immersion Two-Way Program as we are committed to a balanced number of program participants.  Spanish learners may apply to start the program in Kinder or First Grade only.  For students seeking placement in grades 2 or higher, the student must qualify through alternate criteria based on existing participation in a DLI Two-Way or Spanish Immersion program. 

Note:

• Students with a first language other than English will take a language proficiency assessment per the Bilingual Education Program process.
• The number of seats available for English-proficient Spanish learners is dependent on the number of eligible English learners, as this is a state-approved bilingual program.