Dual Language Immersion Cost
The programs presented under the RI Roadmap to Language Excellence comes at no cost, low cost, or cost neutral depending on how the local school districts plan to implement the selected program. Outlined below are several methods to begin a dual language immersion program within Rhode Island.
No Cost/Cost Neutral Plan
A plan that will begin with a retiring elementary educator, the newly hired teacher would be fluent in a world language, allowing for this teacher to teach the world language portion of the students day. This teacher could then follow the students through their elementary schools years.
Low Cost Plan
Instead of waiting for an educator to retire, a school district may elect to hire a new elementary educator that is fluent in English and a world language. This educator would begin the dual language immersion program and would likely teach the children throughout their time at the elementary school.
No Cost/Cost Neutral Plan
A plan that will begin with a retiring elementary educator, the newly hired teacher would be fluent in a world language, allowing for this teacher to teach the world language portion of the students day. This teacher could then follow the students through their elementary schools years.
Low Cost Plan
Instead of waiting for an educator to retire, a school district may elect to hire a new elementary educator that is fluent in English and a world language. This educator would begin the dual language immersion program and would likely teach the children throughout their time at the elementary school.
Compared to Other Language Learning Programs
Many elementary schools have implemented world language learning at the kindergarten or first grade level. These programs are often referred to as Foreign Language in the Elementary Schools or FLES programs. Similar to dual language immersion programs, FLES programs have helped children's English literacy and cognitive abilities. While these increases in children's learning abilities and language literacy overall are substantial steps in the right direction, it is important to compare the current FLES programs with dual language immersion programs. The chart below compares a FLES program currently used in Wisconsin and is being compared to the proposed dual language immersion programs (both the 50/50 and 90/10 models).
*The cost will largely depend on the plan implemented by school districts.