As Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations continue, Round Rock ISD emphasizes the significance of its Dual Language programs for Spanish-speaking students.
The district offers 12 Dual Language campuses, with 1,024 students enrolled in its elementary Dual Language program.
Round Rock ISD’s Director of Bilingual and ESL Programs, Gema Hanson, said offering Dual Language classes and English as a Second Language (ESL) programs is essential.
“Having Dual Language programs is necessary to meet the affective, linguistic, and academic needs of our Emergent Bilingual students,” she said. “We, as a community, understand how important it is to be bilingual, bi-literate, and bicultural.”
The district’s full-time Dual Language Immersion/Two-Way biliteracy model begins in prekindergarten and continues through fifth grade. It serves both native Spanish speakers and English Proficient Learners, who can join starting in kindergarten.
Oscar SotoBermeo, a Dual Language teacher at Caldwell Heights Elementary, takes pride in his work with the second graders there.
“Dual language classrooms validate and celebrate the students’ native language,” he said. “It shows them that their culture and language are valuable assets, boosting their self-esteem. It also provides a space where they feel that their linguistic and cultural identity is recognized and appreciated.”
Our Dual Language campuses, like Caldwell Heights, follow the 90:10 Spanish Immersion model, where Spanish dominates instruction in early grades, transitioning to a 50:50 balance by third grade. The program’s goals are to foster bilingualism, biliteracy, and biculturalism, promoting fluency in both English and Spanish.
For classes like SotoBermeo’s, Hispanic Heritage is celebrated year-round.
“Our students get to celebrate Hispanic culture and language every day since many of our textbooks and authentic materials include Hispanic authors and historical facts related to our culture,” he said.
As we continue to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, our commitment to bilingual education highlights our dedication to honoring cultural diversity and equipping students with the skills they need to thrive in an increasingly interconnected society.
