Dual Language
The Dual Language Lottery for the 2023-2024 school year took place on May 15th.
This video is a recording of the lottery and an explanation of the lottery process.
Dual Language Immersion
The Belvidere School District offers Dual Language Immersion Programs that value the equal acquisition of two languages, English and Spanish. Students participating in this program spend half of the day learning academic content in English and half of the day learning academic content in Spanish. Dual Language Immersion classrooms develop bilingual, biliterate and bicultural students, who are able to achieve proficiency in both English and Spanish within an environment that embraces diversity and strives for excellence. District 100 offers two Dual Language Immersion programs; One Way Immersion and Two Way Immersion. All programs follow the same 50/50 model of language instruction for kindergarten through fifth grades.
One Way Immersion
Meehan Elementary School and Washington Academy offer a One Way Immersion program. The One Way Immersion program consists of native Spanish speaking students who are evaluated and identified as English Learners.
Two Way Immersion
Lincoln Elementary School and Seth Whitman Elementary School offer a Two Way Immersion program. The Dual Language-Two Way Immersion program consists of native English speaking students and native Spanish speaking students. Each year 22 English speaking students and 22 Spanish speaking students are accepted into the Dual Language -Two Way Immersion program at the kindergarten level. Entrance into the program is based on an evaluation and application process.
Students are only eligible to enter into the Dual Language - Two Way Immersion program at the kindergarten level. If a student is coming from a Dual Language program in another district, he or she will be assessed to determine if District 100’s Dual Language program is the best placement. Placement in the program will be determined on the student's abilities and if space is available. *Please indicate during registration if a student is coming from a Dual Language program in another district.
Who is eligible to participate in the Dual Language program?
Students from native Spanish speaking backgrounds who are identified as ELs are entitled to participate in the DLI program at their home school. Those students must go through the EL screening process and will be enrolled in the program if they qualify as native Spanish speaking students.
Students from native English speaking backgrounds are eligible to participate in the Dual Language- Two Way Immersion program beginning at the kindergarten level. 22 English speaking students are accepted into kindergarten Dual Language at both Lincoln and Seth Whitman Elementary Schools each year. Priority is first given to students with siblings who are already in the program, and then to students who live in the home school boundaries of Seth Whitman and Lincoln Elementary Schools. Finally, if seats remain, families from other home schools will have the opportunity for enrollment in the Dual Language- Two Way Immersion program.
Students are only eligible to enter into the Dual Language program at the kindergarten level. If a student is coming from a Dual Language program in another district, he or she will be assessed to determine if District 100’s Dual Language program is the best placement. Placement in the program will be determined on the student's abilities and if space is available. *Please indicate during registration if a student is coming from a Dual Language program in another district.
Dual Language Immersion Programs Language Allocation Chart by Grade Level