After a successful test, the Moline School District is ready to expand a program that teaches children to read, write, speak, and learn in both English and Spanish. Thursday night, it'll hold an information meeting for its Dual Language Academy.
Stephanee Jordan, director of bi-lingual programs, says a pilot program is now in its 3rd year, with 200 students, who started in kindergarten. And she calls their success so far, "unbelievable."
In the fall, 75 children in kindergarten at Lincoln-Irving School will enter the dual language academy. And Jordan says their goal is for students to start at that level each year until it extends into the junior high and high school levels.
Jordan says she knows of only one similar program in Iowa, but there are several in the Chicago suburbs.
The meeting for parents interested in the Dual Language Academy begins at 6:30 pm Thursday at LIncoln-Irving School (1015 16th Ave.).