Tigard-Tualatin School District in Oregon Adds Dual-language Programs

From http://www.oregonlive.com/tigard/index.ssf/2013/03/tigard-tualatin_school_distric_21.html

Tigard-Tualatin School District adds dual-language programs, hopes to close achievement gap
Findley Merritt, The Oregonian By Findley Merritt
March 7, 2013

Despite paying close attention, one kindergartner in Elena Poorman's class struggled to understand what the teacher asked in Spanish.

Seeing his frustration, a classmate translated for him: Turn around.

"Right there, see that?" said Metzger Elementary School Principal Kraig Sproles. "That's the dual-language program."

Seven months ago, Metzger became the first school in the Tigard-Tualatin School District to add a dual-language Spanish immersion program. Bridgeport Elementary will add one starting in this fall.

Proponents of dual-language education say it reduces high-school dropout rates and increases college entrance rates while building bilingualism and higher-level thinking skills.

Read the full article at http://www.oregonlive.com/tigard/index.ssf/2013/03/tigard-tualatin_school_distric_21.html