Marie Reed offers a rigorous, arts-integrated curriculum delivered through our Spanish/English dual-language model, from Early Childhood through 5th grade.
Dual Language Program
Our Dual Language classrooms contain roughly half English-native speakers and half Spanish-native speakers — a model known as Two-Way Immersion. The goal is bilingualism and biliteracy: the ability to proficiently speak, understand, read, and write in both languages.
Research shows Two-Way Immersion is highly effective for both English-dominant and Spanish-dominant students, who typically reach bilingual proficiency in four to six years without sacrificing progress in their first language.
Spanish-dominant students build foundational literacy in their native language first, which supports adding English as a second language. English-dominant students are immersed in Spanish, developing communicative proficiency while naturally continuing to develop English through their everyday environment. Students of both backgrounds learn together, becoming peer tutors and language models for one another.
Our Model
Marie Reed’s program follows research-based Two-Way Immersion criteria developed by Dr. Kathryn Lindholm-Leary, including a minimum of four to six years of bilingual instruction, a strong academic (not just language) curriculum, separation of languages by lesson, and balanced classroom composition of both language backgrounds.
Language instruction breakdown by grade:
- PK3, PK4: 90% Spanish, 10% English
- Kindergarten: 80% Spanish, 20% English
- 1st–5th Grade: 50% Spanish, 50% English
English Language Learners
ELL Support
Linguistically and culturally diverse students registering in DCPS may be sent to the Language Acquisition Division for an English Screening Assessment. The ACCESS for ELLs© test places students in English language proficiency (ELP) levels 1 to 5. DCPS provides services to students scoring ELP levels 1–4 and exits students from support programs once they reach level 5.
Content-Based ESL Programs
English Language Arts, social studies, science, and mathematics are used as the vehicle for language learning, ensuring students master academic content and performance standards. Instruction is primarily in English, with native language support provided when possible, taught by ESL-certified teachers using pull-out, plug-in, or inclusion approaches.
Language Line
DCPS offers all teachers and staff the Language Line, a 24/7 telephonic interpretation service in more than 100 languages. Language Line: 1-800-367-6559, 6-digit Client ID: 511049, Access Code for DCPS: 701001.