"Los Puentes" Dual Language Immersion and Multicultural Education and Research Program Grant uri icon

abstract

  • The Greene County Public School (GCPS) system, in collaboration with East Carolina University (ECU) is implementing "Los Puentes" ("Bridges"), a unique project combining revolutionary cutting edge approaches to "two way" or "dual language" immersion and multicultural education, along with a program of supportive academic research. The dual immersion program component has the following objectives: (1) transition from "remedial" approach to an "enrichment" model that benefits both language minority and majority students; (2) replace ESL pull-out with dual language immersion that provides ESL and native English speaking children mainstream content curriculum, language arts, and cultural enrichment; (3) reduce the current high levels of Latino student retention; (4) assist ESL and native English speaking children to acquire high proficiency in both their first and second language; (5) support both ESL and native English speaking students to achieve at/or above grade level on end-of-grade testing; (6) close the achievement gap; (7) create bridges and positive interaction between Greene county's three cultural groups through a multicultural curriculum and learning environment that fosters deep respect, appreciation and understanding; (8) attract middle class and more educated residents to remain in the public school system; (9) implement a more cost-effective approach to ESL education; and (10) monitor, evaluate and document program development to create a new model for bilingual and multicultural education for replication in schools throughout North Carolina. Los Puentes will commence in GCPS with two sheltered kindergarten classes (25 students each/total of 50 students) with a 50/50 mix of language minority (Spanish) and language majority (English) children in fall 2003. Over the 3 year period of this grant proposal 150 children grades K-2 will enter the program. Children will receive 50% instruction time in English and 50% in Spanish in a "balanced" model of immersion. With success, it is probable that a significant portion of the school system in the future will gradually transition to dual language immersion. Accelerated immigration and settlement of Latino families is profoundly reshaping the demographic, economic, cultural and social landscape of Greene County. . Yet there is little understanding of the processes of transnational migration at work or the reality of Latinos in Greene County. The Department of Geography, in collaboration with the GCPS and REI, is undertaking collaborative research focused on better understanding the patterns, processes and impacts of Latino migration to Eastern Carolina as well as the socio-economic realities of Latino residents. This study will serve both local practical development needs and also make a major contribution to the academic literature. Results from this research will be used to: (1) guide the development of Los Puentes dual language immersion and multicultural education program; (2) assist REI to address Latino needs within their school reform "Project Significance" partnership with GCPS; (3) assist existing and proposed ECU/Greene County projects better reach their Latino beneficiaries; (4) guide development of future programs and services initiated by the school system, the "Bridges" family-school connections counseling service and the Greene County government; (4) improve policy formulation, budgeting and service delivery by Greene County local government institutions and their state-level counterparts; (5) develop an understanding of the dynamics of transnational migration in the US South; and (6) make a major contribution to the growing body of scholarly work on transnational migration.

date/time interval

  • January 2003 - December 2003

contributor