DLI Elementary Programs

2020 Immersion Application Information

AAPPL TEST FOR DLI ELEMENTARY STUDENTS

• Interpersonal Listening/Speaking
• Presentational Writing
• Interpretive Reading and Listening

FAQ about Immersion

Many people have asked questions about the dual Language Immersion program in the Davis School District. To help ensure that correct information is being shared in the community, please refer to the answers to our most Frequently Asked Questions. 

• How are the kindergarten students selected for the immersion class?

  Parents of incoming kindergarten students are invited to attend an informational meeting held in the early spring where the program is introduced. Applications are available that evening, and at each school, for a one to two week enrollment period. If more students apply than the program can accommodate, a lottery is held for the spots in the class.

• Is this a gifted program? Are students prescreened or can anyone apply?

  The immersion program is NOT a gifted program, although it certainly serves the needs of a gifted learner. The immersion program is open to any interested incoming kindergarten student and prescreening is not part of the application process.

• Do you need to live within the school boundaries to be able to participate?

  While living within the boundaries is not mandatory, preference is given to those students who would normally be assigned to attend that particular school. Occasionally, space is available for those living outside the school boundaries. Principals will be able to let patrons know if there will be room for out of boundary students in their school.

• Can older students join the immersion program?

  As openings occur, students can join existing immersion classes up through the 2nd grade. Students are hand-selected for these openings based on factors that help ensure student success. Because the new student will be at a significant disadvantage coming into an existing immersion classroom, the student identified as the one most likely to succeed in this setting will be selected. If more than one applicant has met the guidelines for placement, a lottery will be held for the opening.

• What if my child isn’t selected for immersion? Will he be at a disadvantage?

  The immersion programs in Davis District are very limited in number and unfortunately, there are more interested students than there are openings. While this is a wonderful opportunity for students to acquire a second language, it is neither the mission nor the primary focus of the Davis School District. The district’s mission statement is “Learning First” and is centered around the academic success of all students. The district prides itself on the quality education it provides to ALL students living in Davis County. The teachers in all the schools are well-trained and provide an outstanding education for all students.  

• Are the immersion teachers all certified to teach?

  All of our immersion teachers hold a Utah teaching license, however they come from a variety of backgrounds. Most have been educated in our local universities and have graduated with an Elementary Education or language degree. Others are International Guest Teachers from foreign countries. These teachers have been hand-selected by their respective governments to come to Utah to teach in our schools. They represent the “best and brightest” these countries have to offer. Other foreign teachers have spent a year as an intern in one of the immersion schools and then move to a full-time teaching position the following year. A small number of teachers have a college degree in an area other than education; however, all are screened through a rigorous process by the Utah State Board of Education in order to ascertain their aptness to teach in our schools. If necessary, they take university and state-sponsored classes to complete their course work in Elementary Education.

• How are immersion programs funded? Do they take money away from other programs at the school?

  The district funds the immersion classrooms as they fund all classrooms, paying the salary of the teacher and providing teaching space. The immersion classrooms receive the same funding for supplies, books, etc. as do other classrooms in the building. District and school funds in excess of what is normally allotted to every classroom are not used to support immersion classrooms.  In addition, the immersion programs are given funds through money set aside by the Utah State Legislature specifically for the Dual Language Immersion schools. These monies are used to purchase textbooks, classroom supplies and other curricular needs, as well as covering the cost of substitute teachers when immersion teachers are at state-sponsored workshops. If a school dropped their immersion program, these funds would NOT be available to the school or the district. Because of the legislative money, immersion schools generally have district funds freed up that can used by other classrooms outside of the immersion program.

• Are the students in the immersion classes doing poorly academically because they are learning math and science in another language?

  The district administration has been vigilant in tracking the academic achievement of all immersion students. End of year test scores show that the immersion students in Davis District are scoring at the same level as their monolingual peers in math, language arts and science. Scores are measured against scores of peers as well as against demographically-similar schools throughout the district.

• What happens when the immersion students reach junior high and high school? Won’t the language classes offered be too easy for them?

  7th and 8th grade students will be offered one or two courses per year of advanced language classes. In 9th grade, the immersion students will take an A.P. (Advanced Placement) exam and will be tested to possibly receive college credit. If students don't pass the A.P. test in 9th grade, no problem! The A.P. test is difficult as a 9th grader. Students would just go on to take the A.P. Language class in high school. If, however, a student does pass the AP exam with a score of 3 or higher, he or she will be accelerated into the Bridge program, where students may take level 3000 university courses in grades 10-12. If students take all three courses throughout high school, they will graduate 6 credit hours (2 classes) short of a minor in the language.

Teacher Resources and Materials