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Bilingual education expands in Redlands with new Spanish dual immersion program
District officials outlined plans for a new Spanish dual language immersion program at McKinley Elementary starting in 2026–27, detailing enrollment, structure and long-term goals for bilingual education.
REDLANDS, Calif. — Redlands Unified School District will launch a Spanish Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program in the 2026-27 school year at Mckinley Elementary.
At a virtual information meeting for interested families, District leaders and McKinley Elementary Principal Minerva Castorena outlined how the program will work, why Spanish was selected as the target language and what families need to do to apply.
Why it matters: The new program reflects years of planning that began in 2019 but was delayed by the pandemic. District officials say the dual language immersion model is backed by decades of research showing academic, cognitive and social benefits for students.
The program aims to serve both native English speakers and native Spanish speakers in the same classroom, with the goals of building bilingualism, biliteracy, high academic achievement and cross-cultural understanding. District leaders say these skills will prepare students for college, careers and a more global future.
Details: The Spanish Dual Language Immersion program will launch at McKinley Elementary in the 2026–27 school year and, at least initially, will be the only site in the district offering it. Future expansion to middle and high school is planned, though specific sites have not yet been determined.
In its first year, the program will serve 68 students in transitional kindergarten and kindergarten, with multiple sections offered. Instruction will follow a 90–10 model, meaning the majority of instruction will be in Spanish in the early grades, with English gradually increasing each year until a more balanced model is reached.
Teachers in the program will be required to hold Spanish authorization credentials. Classrooms will follow California state standards for Spanish and use the same core curriculum as English-only classrooms, with adjustments made to meet the needs of bilingual instruction.
The district also plans to balance classrooms between native English speakers and native Spanish speakers, aiming for roughly equal representation in each class, based on enrollment data and family surveys.
District officials said Spanish was selected as the target language after reviewing student language data across Redlands Unified. Spanish-speaking students make up the largest language group in the district, exceeding the next largest group by more than 10 percentage points.
By starting with Spanish, the district aims to serve a significant portion of its student population while also creating an integrated model where English learners and native English speakers learn side by side. Leaders said this approach supports equity, access, and academic opportunity, while also reflecting the linguistic and cultural makeup of the community.
What they’re saying: Castorena, who is also the parent of a former dual immersion student, emphasized the long-term impact of bilingual education. She shared that her own son, now 30, remains fluent in Spanish and has carried those skills into adulthood and his service in the U.S. Army.
“To achieve true bilingualism and biliteracy, students are expected to remain enrolled in the dual language immersion program through at least fifth grade,” Castorena said. “Each year builds on language skills. Developed in previous grades and long-term participation is essential for strong outcomes.”
District leaders also highlighted the broader benefits of bilingual education, noting research that shows bilingual students often demonstrate stronger critical thinking and problem-solving skills and develop greater cultural understanding and empathy.
Zoom out: According to the Institute of Education Sciences, research has found that students in dual-language immersion programs often perform as well as, or better than, their peers across core academic content areas.
Moving forward: Families interested in the program must first enroll their child at their home school, then complete an online dual language immersion interest form by March 6 and attend an informational meeting. The district is developing a readiness assessment to help ensure appropriate classroom balance and student preparedness.
Because interest is already high, district officials said a lottery process may be used if applications exceed available space, with some students placed on a waitlist. Families accepted into the program can expect confirmation emails by May or earlier, if possible.
The district emphasized that transportation will not be provided to McKinley for the program and encouraged families to review the Dual Language Immersion FAQ page on the district website.
Leaders also stressed that dual immersion is a long-term commitment, ideally through at least fifth grade and beyond, and encouraged families to stay actively involved as the program grows.
“This program represents opportunity, connection, and a commitment to preparing our students for a global future,” Castorena said.
Kathryne is a journalist and creative writer who has contributed to CFR since 2023. When she isn't reporting, she can be found curled up with a thick fantasy book.
