Tulsa Public Schools will expand its multilingual program offerings in the 2022-2023 school year, adding a two-way Spanish dual language program at Springdale Elementary School. Springdale is currently a one-way dual language school. Tulsa Public Schools will offer a total of 11 multilingual language programs across the district in the coming school year.

“We are excited to bring this two-way dual language program to Springdale next year,” said Superintendent Deborah Gist. “Principal Bacon has been an advocate for bilingual education for many years, and we are so excited to expand Springdale’s program to attract, retain, and serve our students at the school. Student access to multilingual education correlates with higher academic achievement and expanded college and career opportunities, which is why we will continue expanding our dual language programming.” 

In the 2022-2023 school year, Springdale Elementary will begin the transition from a one-way dual language school to a two-way dual language school; and all pre-K and kindergarten classrooms will become two-way dual language classrooms starting fall 2022. Every year, the two-way dual language program will expand a grade. Springdale will be a pre-K to 5th grade two-way dual language school by the 2027-2028 school year.

Currently, students in the school’s one-way dual language program are 100% Spanish dominant speakers and are taught in English and Spanish. The two-way dual language program will be open to both English and Spanish speakers who will learn to read in their stronger language first, while they develop academic skills in both English and Spanish. The program offers core subjects in both English and Spanish; for example, science and social studies are taught in Spanish while math is taught in English.

“Language is power, and bilingualism is an experience that shapes our children’s global cultural competence for a lifetime,” said Springdale Principal Rebecca Bacon. “We know that our families want more dual language learning opportunities for their children, so we’re excited to expand our program to meet that need. There is still time to enroll in Springdale for the 2022-2023 school year, and we hope you will join us!”

Tulsa Public Schools’ second enrollment window for the 2022-2023 school year will close on Monday, August 1. Families can enroll their children from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays at the Tulsa Public Schools Enrollment Center; or online at www.tulsaschools.org/enroll.

Other district schools providing dual language programming include:

• One-way dual language programming at Sequoyah and Skelly elementary schools
• Two-way dual language programming at Celia Clinton, Cooper, Disney, Felicitas Mendez, Kendall-Whittier, and Springdale elementary schools, and Will Rogers College Middle School
• Language immersion programming at Eisenhower and Zarrow international schools

Visit www.tulsaschools.org/duallanguage to learn more about dual language programs at Tulsa Public Schools.