The Valley Center Bilingual Education Program reflects the district's belief that biliteracy is both desirable and attainable. The rationale for Valley Center's two-way bilingual program is based on the latest research of authors such as Ramirez, Cummins, Lambert, and Krashen. The program is based on studies of immersion education and the five principles outlined in the Theoretical Framework for Bilingual Education published by the California State Department of Education. The program started in the early 1980s.

The program is based on research revealing that students' development in a second language is determined by their development in their first language. In grades K-3, students learn reading/language arts and math in their primary language. In fourth grade, students formally make the transition into their second language in the reading/language area. Content-area instruction in grades 4-6 is taught on an alternating weeks or lessons basis. By fifth grade, students are expected to be able to handle the complete curriculum in both their primary and secondary languages. At this point, the curriculum is taught completely on an alternating basis. Seventh- and eighth-grade course offerings include Bilingual Language Arts, Bilingual Social Studies, Bilingual Science, and Spanish for Bilingual Students.

In addition, each classroom in grades K-6 provides 20 to30 minutes of second-language development. Teachers use voice intonations, gestures, manipulatives, and visual aids to teach concepts. Over 785 students, or approximately 30 percent of the district's total student population, participate in the Valley Center Bilingual Education Program from kindergarten through eighth grade. In 1997, there were 43 bilingual teachers. Of this group, all but four possess a bilingual teaching credential, and the others possess CLAD certification and work in a team with bilingual teachers.

Students are placed in the bilingual program by parent consent as as English Learners (EL) or if they are unable to meet the district's standards for redesignation from EL to fluent English proficient (FEP). Over 95 percent of all EL students are Spanish speaking. Spanish Learners (SL) are also enrolled in the program by parent consent. Most SL students may enter the program without addition preparation up through second grade. After third grade, late entry SL students may need additional support for Spanish language development. In the past, the district has offered a Spanish as a second language after-school program and/or summer school program to facilitate late students' entry into the program.

Contact: Lucy Haines, Special Projects Director
Valley Center Union School District
28751 Cole Grade Road
Valley Center, CA 92082
(619) 749-0464; fax (619) 749-1208