In fact, the state Board of Education allowed a few schools to continue their dual-immersion classes after Proposition 227 led to a reduction in bilingual education in California. The program depends on an equal number of children who speak English and those who speak Spanish. Montalvo's program will start with two kindergarten classes, each with 10 native English speakers and 10 Spanish speakers. From kindergarten through second grade, the students will be taught mainly in Spanish. From third through fifth grade, students will receive half of their instruction in Spanish and half in English.
Students also learn from each other, administrators say.
By the time they graduate from the K-5 school, they will be able to read, write and speak in both languages, educators say. Qualified bilingual instructors will teach the classes, Medina said. And each year, the school will add one grade until the program extends through fifth grade. Cliff Rodrigues, board president for the Ventura Unified School District, said that parent response has been overwhelming. There are only a few spaces left, and the school plans to start a waiting list soon, school officials said.