Dual language immersion programs have been on the rise in the United States as a proven effective form of bilingual education. As of the 2018–2019 academic year, Utah had 224 dual language immersion (DLI) programs; 113 Spanish, 65 Chinese, 30 French, 13 Portuguese, 2 German and 1 Russian. Roughly 34,000 students were enrolled in one of these programs. The DLI programs in Utah use a 50:50 model, which means half of the students' day is in the partner language model and half is in English. The purpose of my study was to research teachers’ attitudes, opinions, and beliefs within a DLI school environment and understand their experiences of the benefits and challenges on how the DLI program has impacted their career. In order to gain a better understanding of the DLI program and all that it entails regarding teacher attitudes, opinions, and beliefs, a qualitative study, using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), was conducted. There were 12 participants, three of which were male and nine of which were female. They taught in DLI schools in Spanish, English, German, and Chinese. Findings from the interviews conducted identified six primary themes and seven secondary themes from teachers’ experiences working in a DLI program. The primary themes included cultural awareness, school environment, support, curriculum development, collaboration and training. Teachers wanted more training in order to be more prepared to teach dual immersion. They also needed materials and resources that are readily available to them for the target language being taught so they aren’t wasting their time and money creating resources that should be provided. Teachers felt that collaboration is a struggle because of the different schedules that the dual immersion programs require. These finding are based on how educators experienced the DLI program in their respective schools. Implications and recommendations for implementation of a successful dual immersion program are discussed.

Quantitative data examined the effectiveness of a Two Way Bilingual Immersion program on the biliteracy and academic achievement of elementary English learners in southern California. Scores from the California Standards Test (CST) for language arts and mathematics were used to compare the effects of a bilingual curriculum on Hispanic English learners and Hispanic English Only Speakers. English learners' average group scores increased significantly; average group scores for English Only Students' decreased. The Standards Test in Spanish (STS) scores indicate English learners' gains in biliteracy development. These notable academic outcomes evidence the importance of Two Way Bilingual Immersion program for English learners.

Dual-immersion is a bilingual education method offered that places English as a first language (EFL) and English language learner (ELL) students in the same classroom to learn two languages at the same time. This study examines whether second language acquisition through dual-immersion supports literacy for both ELL and EFLS children over time. Students' scores on standardized tests (ITBS, TAKS, Logramos, Stanford 9, and Aprenda) were studied to assess the impact, if any, of dual-immersion instruction vs. regular/bilingual education on reading development. Scores from 2000 through 2004 were gathered and analyzed for students enrolled in a dual-immersion class which started in kindergarten in 2000. These scores were compared to scores of students enrolled in regular and bilingual education classrooms for the same amount of time at the same school to examine whether there was an effect for students in the dual-immersion class. It was found that no significant difference existed between the groups. All groups were performing at a passing level on the standardized tests. The dual-immersion class was performing as well as the regular education class on standardized tests in both English and Spanish.

This normative comparative study sought to compare the reading achievement, in English and Spanish, of Latino English learners in a 50/50 two-way immersion (TWI) bilingual program to Latino English learners in a 90/10 TWI program. The scores from 55 students across four TWI programs, two 50/50 and two 90/10, were analyzed. The principal from each school was also interviewed. Quantitative data from the district’s reading Benchmark Book Test, California Standards Test/English Language Arts and Standards-based Test in Spanish were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA, Bonferroni Post Hoc and Chi Square to compare the means between the students’ reading achievement in Spanish and English by program model. Overall the biliteracy results revealed that the main effect between programs was not significant (p = .23) nor was the within subjects effect (p = .42). However, the interaction of grade and program was significant (p = .001). English and Spanish literacy results showed the students in the 50/50 TWI program outperformed students in the 90/10 TWI program by end of fifth grade; however across program models more students reached grade level literacy in English than in Spanish. Interviews with the principals of each school revealed that when analyzing test data at the school site level, English data were analyzed more closely and more systematically due to accountability measures indicating that NCLB has had a profound effect on the biliteracy attainment of Latino English learners in two-way immersion.

The Latino population is the largest minority group in the United States, making up 16.3% of the total population. As the Latino population of the US grows, the Latino student population within schools across the nation is also growing, accounting for 10.5% of the student population. While the Latino student population continues to grow, there is evidence that this group is not achieving academically at the same rate as other groups. Latino statistics in Utah showed a similar situation within public schools. Fifty-one percent of Latino fourth graders were reading below the expected levels, compared to 22% for Caucasian students. Latino student dropout rates were higher than other groups at 28%, compared to 13% for African American students and 7% for Caucasian students. Students who fail to learn to read are more likely to fail in school. One reason why Latinos graduate at a lower rate is that Latino literacy rates in the U.S. and Utah are lower than other groups. An effective literacy program was needed to assist Latino elementary school students in literacy. Latinos in Action (LIA), a secondary school tutoring program, trained Latino secondary students as tutors for Latino elementary school students. Students' progress was tracked using the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) Oral Reading Fluency (ORF) measure. LIA tutored ELL students' ORF progress was compared to the ORF scores of ELL students who did not receive LIA tutoring, ELL students in Spanish dual-immersion instruction who did not receive LIA tutoring, and native English speakers who did not receive LIA tutoring or dual-immersion instruction. Results showed that LIA tutoring was not statistically more or less effective that general instruction on dual-immersion instruction for improving ORF scores for ELL students. Larger sample sizes are needed to increase the validity of this study.

This thesis uses a Mandarin-English dual immersion program at a Southern California public elementary school as a case study to examine how culture is taught and learned in the dual immersion setting. Based on classroom observations and interviews with students, staff, and parents, this thesis argues that concepts of “China” and “Chinese culture” are conveyed, constructed, and negotiated by students as well as teachers, both implicitly and explicitly.

The growing English learner student population in California faces the daunting challenge of both meeting the academic expectations of school curriculum while also learning to speak, write, read, and understand a new language. Often it is the task of school administrators to choose, plan, implement, and maintain instructional programs that best meet the needs of all students. Dual Immersion is an instructional bilingual model that has been used to address the learning and teaching needs of students who do not speak English. The purpose of this study was to describe the role of elementary school administrators and the obstacles encountered while implementing and maintaining Dual Immersion programs in California. Two research questions were addressed: 1. What is the elementary school administrator's role in the process of implementing and maintaining a Dual Immersion Program? 2. What are the obstacles encountered by elementary school administrators in the process of implementing and maintaining a Dual Immersion Program? A non-experimental, descriptive research design was used to analyze the survey results. Eighty surveys were sent to elementary school administrators. Twenty respondents' answers were used in the data analysis. Three personal interviews were also conducted to more fully understand the skills, tasks, and obstacles to successfully implement and maintain a Dual Immersion. The results of the data analysis in this study revealed that elementary school administrators need: 1. To ensure that teachers analyze student data and make curriculum decisions that affect the academic performance of students in a Dual Immersion program; 2. To ensure that teachers understand the outcomes and expectations of the program. 3. To encourage teachers to use data analysis to accommodate the instructional needs of all the students in the program. 4. To ensure that new staff members to the program found support and guidance 5. To support program policy to encourage accountability. The conclusions of this study confirmed the importance of comprehending the goals and methodology of Dual Immersion programs, parent involvement and support, and the need for administrators who active participation in their leadership and managing roles.

The principal is an important key to school success and student achievement (Anderson & Togneri, 2003; Met & Lorenz, 1997). Considering the role of principals of dual immersion schools, few studies have considered factors leading to their success (Nicholson, Harris-Johhn, & Schimmel, 2005; Simmons et al., 2007). With current advancements in skill mapping and meta-analyses, the understanding of skill and trait theory has improved, greatly enhancing the researcher's ability to effectively identify a leader's skills and traits (Derue, Nahrgang, Wellman, & Humphrey, 2011; Marzano, Waters, & McNulty, 2005; Scouller, 2011; Zaccaro, 2007). A clearer understanding of the skills and traits dual immersion principals need would help other dual immersion principals and the districts and states that train these principals (Waters, Marzano, & McNulty, 2003). Through a set of interviews and surveys, the researcher explored themes and patterns based on principals' opinions of the skills and traits they use. The researcher compared one-way dual immersion schools with two-way dual immersion schools in an effort to distinguish how principals' opinions vary between these two contrasting immersion paradigms. An analysis of principal responses from the surveys and interviews revealed that a number of traits and skills identified in previous research are also important for dual immersion principals. In addition, the research found a number of new skills and traits unique to the dual immersion context. This research also found that many skills and traits of dual immersion principals varied between the contexts of one-way and two-way. These findings indicate an important shift in our understanding of the role of principal and the ways that dual immersion principals are trained.