Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) will launch its first dual language, two-way immersion program at the start of the 2024-2025 school year. The program will start in August 2024 at Arthur Middleton Elementary School in Waldorf.
The first two grade levels to participate include both prekindergarten and kindergarten students. These students will receive instruction in two languages – English and Spanish – throughout their elementary school years.
After the launch of the program, the next grade level will be added each school year. The program will fully be implemented at Middleton at the start of the 2029-2030 school year. With the start of the 2029-2030 school year, all students who attend Middleton will participate in the program.
The goal of a dual language immersion program is for students to be bilingual and biliterate rather than just fluent in English. The launch of the program is part of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future legislation’s focal area to accelerate the achievement of English learners.
Additionally, Priority 2 of the CCPS Strategic Plan focuses on the expansion of access and opportunities for all students to better prepare them for post-graduation. The U.S. Department of Education Office of English Language Acquisition identified several areas of learning in which multilingualism benefits students. This includes improved learning in various subjects, comparable or higher achievement of students in dual language programs as compared to their peers, increased levels of creativity, and promotes higher levels of abstract thought and reasoning.
Middleton was identified as the launch school for the program because it currently has the highest English as a Second Language (ESOL) population of students in Charles County. Chief of Teaching and Learning Kevin Lowndes provided the Board of Education with an update about the program at its Feb. 14 meeting. A copy of the presentation is linked on the CCPS website.
Middleton staff will not be required to be bilingual but CCPS will begin to hire such staff to support the program. The CCPS Office of Human Resources will soon survey staff to determine how many are bilingual, other languages in which staff may be proficient in speaking and reading, and to gauge interest in those who would like to work in the dual language, two-way immersion program.
Middleton staff was briefed last week about the launch of the program. Middleton staff, along with members of the CCPS office of teaching and learning, will host community information sessions in which parents can attend to learn more about the program. Details about the information sessions is below.
Middleton Community Information Session – Spanish
Wednesday, March 1, 2023, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Middleton Community Information Session – English
Thursday, March 2, 2023, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Middleton parents with questions can complete the form linked below. The questions will be addressed at the community information sessions.
English: https://forms.office.com/r/a3QF9YVyDt
Spanish: https://forms.office.com/r/YTjVd6pr6c
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 27,598 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 37 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event. CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).