Through the district’s Dual Language program, students maintain their first language while adding a second language, and they develop pride in their own language and culture while developing an understanding of the cultures and traditions of others. Leander ISD offers both two-way (for Spanish-speaking and English-speaking students) and one-way (for Spanish-speaking students) approaches.
Leander ISD adopted the Gomez & Gomez Dual Language Enrichment model for all bilingual classrooms in 2009. The goal of bilingual education under this model is to produce students who are bilingual, bi-literate, academically successful and socio-culturally competent.
About Dual Language Education
“Dual language education is an effective program for developing language and content in two languages while students develop sociocultural competence. The three pillars, or goals, of dual language education are the promotion of
- Bilingualism and biliteracy
- Grade-level academic achievement in both languages
- Sociocultural competence
Students maintain their first language while adding a second language, and they develop pride in their own language and culture while developing an understanding of the cultures and traditions of others.” -Center for Applied Linguistics
“Middle and high school students are in the process of becoming young adults, and the secondary DL program gives DL students opportunities to prove to themselves how their bilingual/multicultural capabilities will be important to their adult lives. By building on and expanding their bilingual proficiency, content mastery, and cross-cultural understanding that was begun in elementary school, DL students in middle school begin to see how their DL education is relevant to their future. DL secondary students are preparing to function at high cognitive levels in their evolving bilingual/multicultural contexts as adults in their home communities and in professional contexts.” -Dr. Ginger Collier and WayneThomas
Two Approaches under the Dual Language Enrichment Model
Two-Way Dual Language
Supports “two language” groups of students to become bilingual, bi-literate and socio-culturally competent. For example, both Spanish-speaking and English-speaking students learn in both languages. LISD implemented this approach in the fall of 2014 at Reed Elementary and the next year at Whitestone, beginning in Kinder. In the fall of 2018 LISD began implementation in Kinder at Bagdad and Knowles. In 2020 LISD added the program in middle school at Henry and Danielson.
One-Way Dual Language
Supports “one language” groups of students to become bilingual, bicultural, and bi-literate. For example, students whose primary language is Spanish learn in English and Spanish. Since 2009, LISD has been implementing this approach for students whose primary language is Spanish and who are not yet proficient in English upon entering school. Currently PreKinder is the only grade level that remains a One-Way program.
Current Dual Language Schools
Two-Way DLE, Kinder-5th grades, PreKinder is One-Way:
- Bagdad Elementary
800 Deercreek Ln
Leander, TX 78641
512 570-5900 - Knowles Elementary
2101 Cougar Country Dr
Leander, TX 78641
512 570-6200
Two-Way DLE in all grades at:
- Reed Elementary
1515 Little Elm Trl.
Cedar Park, TX 78613
512 570-7700 - Whitestone Elementary
2000 Crystal Falls Pkwy
Leander, TX 78641
512 570-7400
One-Way DLE in PreK:
- Faubion Elementary
1209 Cypress Creek Rd
Cedar Park, Tx 78613
512 570-7500
Two-Way DLE in all grades at middle school:
- Danielson Middle School
1061 Collaborative Way
Leander, TX 78641
512 570-3900 - Henry Middle School
100 N Vista Ridge Blvd
Cedar Park, Tx 78613
512 570-3400
Dual Language Middle School for 2025/26 FAQs
If you need to request a transfer to continue in the Dual Language program submit this Transfer request form for 2025/26
Application to participate in Dual Language Kinder 2025/26
The Dual Language Application for 2025-2026 for incoming kindergarten students is now live! Applications are accepted through May 2nd, 2025 at 5 pm. Use this link to access the application: Dual Language Application 2025/26
Dual Language Community Information Nights
Community Information Nights for interested families will be in the following dates:
- Reed Elementary: Monday, March 10, 2025 5:30-6:30 Reed Library
- Bagdad Elementary: Wednesday, March 12, (2 sessions) 4:30-5:30, and 5:30-6:30 Bagdad Elementary Library
- Knowles Elementary: Tuesday, March 25, 2025 5:30-6:30 Knowles Elementary Library
- Whitestone Elementary: Thursday, April 10, 2025 6:30-7:30 Whitestone Elementary Library
We look forward to sharing information with you!
Dual Language events
Dual Language Family Collaboration Nights
Designed to facilitate collaboration among our Dual Language community stakeholders. Families, children, parents and teachers come together 4 evenings out of the school year. There is time for networking, food and fellowship. The community of students, parents and teachers in the Dual Language program work together to support multilingualism, academic growth and development. We hold the meetings for all families in the program at a different campus each night in order to strengthen the program across all 7 Dual Language campuses.
The four meeting dates for the 2024-25 school year are:
- Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 from 6-7:30 p.m. at Bagdad Elementary School: Summary of the event
- Thursday, Oct 24, 2024 from 6-7:30 p.m. at Knowles Elementary School:
- Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 from 6-7:30 p.m. at Reed Elementary School: Summary of the event
- Thursday, April 10, 2025 from 6-7:30 p.m at Whitestone Elementary School
Other Dual Language Events
- Dec. 7, 2024: 11th Annual Spanish Poetry Festival
- March 8, 2025: 4th Annual Global Languages & Cultures Film Festival
We invite all multilingual students to submit videos. We are interested in student created videos by all age ranges (EC-12), a variety of genres and topics.
Language of Instruction
Language Arts
- Pre-K, Kinder, & Grade 1: Formally develop literacy in Spanish for all students
- Grade 2 through Grade 5: In both languages
- Grades 6-8: A minimum of 2 courses in Spanish; One of the two courses has Spanish Language Arts as a primary focus
Mathematics
- Pre-K through Grade 5: In English
Science and Social Studies
- Pre-K through Grade 5: In Spanish
- Grades 6-8: A minimum of 2 courses in Spanish; Currently students take their Social Studies course in Spanish
Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction
More coming soon!
Featured Dual Language Learning
2023-2024
Dual Language students in 7th grade take Texas History in Spanish at Danielson Middle School and Henry Middle School. They studied the question: How can we tell an honest story about the encounters between European conquistadors and the indigenous people of Texas? In a standards-aligned project, students learned about the history of colonization in Texas and its impact on indigenous tribes through the lens of museum curators. Students developed their ability to analyze primary and secondary sources, collaboration skills, written and oral communication skills alongside learning about Texas history. Students created clay artifacts and written plaques for their own museum that told an honest story about the encounters between conquistadors and indigenous tribes, and presented their learning to visitors. In addition, students visited the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin to further their study of artifacts, the art of museum curation, and perspectives in history. In this video Vivian explains the project. In this video William presents his artifact.
