The following are programs and services offered to Windham Public Schools students who are identified as English Learners or Multilingual Learners (EL/ML):

Dual Language Programs

Dual Language Programs promote bilingualism, biliteracy, and sociocultural competence through the instruction of academic content in two languages over the course of at least six years. They are the only programs that fully close the achievement gap between English Learners and monolingual, English speaking students. Designed originally to assist English Learners reach high academic achievement and literacy in both their home language and English, Dual Language Programs have been found to assist all learners to reach high levels of academic achievement. Students in Windham's Dual Language Programs learn on English and in Spanish every day.

There are three types of Dual Language Programs in Windham Public Schools:

Two-Way Dual Language Program: Compañeros (grades PK-5)

First, Two-Way Dual Language Bilingual Education Programs are comprised of a balance of English dominant, target language dominant (Spanish), and simultaneous bilingual students. This results in all groups of students attaining the desired results of high academic achievment, bilingualism and biliteracy, and sociocultural competence.

At Windham Public Schools, our Two-Way Dual Language Program is Compañeros. Compañeros has been helping Windham students to be bilingual and biliterate for over 30 years! Entrance to the program is lottery-based.

Compañeros is for Pre-Kindergarten to 5th grade students and is located at: 

• Windham Early Childhood Center (PK)

• North Windham Elementary School (K-5)

One-Way Dual Language Program: Dos Ríos (grades K-5)

In contrast to Two-Way, One-Way Dual Language Programs are comprised of only English Language Learners who speak the target language (Spanish) as one of their home languages. We are also fortunate have launched Connecticut’s first true One-Way Developmental Dual Language Bilingual Education Program, Dos Ríos, for language minority students during the 2018-2019 school year. This program is not lottery based and is available to Kindergarten to 5th grade Multilingual Learner students who have a home language of Spanish.

Dos Ríos is offered in every Windham elementary school:

• Natchaug Elementary School (K-5)

• North Windham Elementary School (K-2, growing one grade each year)

• Sweeney Elementary School (1-5)

• Windham Center Elementary School (3-5)

Secondary Dual Language Program: Compañeros Unidos (grades 6-8)

In Windham Middle School, Dos Ríos students and Compañeros students are integrated to participate in Compañeros Unidos. In a secondary Dual Language model, all students participate in Spanish Language arts and at least one other core content area taught entirely in Spanish. For the 24-25 school year, Compañeros students will learn the following content entirely in Spanish: 6th grade science, 7th grade science, 7th grade social studies, 8th grade science. Math in 6th grade will be taught using alternating langauges by unit.

Compañeros Unidos is offered at

• Windham Middle School
  
  Please see the Compañeros Lottery page and the Dual Language Programs (Compañeros and Dos Ríos) page for more information.

Bilingual and ESOL Support (grades K-12)

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Support is a form of support offered to students learning English and does not use students' native language during instruction. ESOL Support focuses on students' English language development in addition to their comprehension of academic content in the general education curriculum. ESOL support is provided to students through co-teaching in general education/content area classes, push-in support (ESOL teacher helping in the mainstream classroom), or pull-out support (ESOL teacher helping in an ESOL classroom) by an ESOL certified teacher. Students who are in their first 30 months of U.S. schooling may also receive bilingual support.

ESOL Classes/Courses (grades 6-12)

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes are taught by certified ESOL teachers. Students are placed in these courses according to their English proficiency levels and academic support needs. ESOL courses focus on students' English language development and often on academic content.

New Arrivals Classes (grades 9-12)

The New Arrivals program is for students who are at the beginning stages of English acquisition in grades 6-12. The program has a teacher who works with the students as a group and supports them in the mainstream classes. Native language support may be given to assist students in both language and content acquisition.

In an increasingly global society, the importance of learning world languages and developing sociocultural competence cannot be underestimated. Students who achieve bilingualism enjoy various benefits including but not limited to: enhanced executive function (brain power), advantages in the job market, slower onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia, and much more.

Currently, Windham Public Schools offers Spanish through our Dual Language programs and our World Language programs at: 

• C. H. Barrows STEM Academy (K-8)

• Windham Middle School (6-8)

• Windham High School (9-12)

Bilingual classes throughout Windham Public Schools are proud to be learning!