Following a landmark approval from the state, the Little Rock School District (LRSD) is set to become the first public school district in Arkansas to implement a K-12 dual-immersion language program.
The Arkansas Department of Education approved the LRSD programs in April and will provide support and technical assistance as well as conduct classroom visits.
The initiative, scheduled to launch this August, was made possible through a strategic partnership with the Clinton School of Public Service and the data-driven research of Master of Public Service student Ashley Delgado, who graduated in May.
The program will debut at Chico and Watson Elementary Schools, where students will spend the majority of their school day learning core course content in Spanish before transitioning to a 50-50 English-Spanish model in later grades. At the end of the program, students will be able to read, write, speak, and understand both Spanish and English.
The path to this historic approval was paved by Delgado’s Capstone project, a year-long intensive research initiative. Working under the mentorship of LRSD leadership, including Stefanie Vestal, Clinton School alumna and Director of Strategy and External Affairs, Delgado developed the foundational architecture for the program.
Her work included a comprehensive five-year logic model, an evaluation plan to track student progress through middle school, and a teacher recruitment strategy designed to address the state’s unique certification landscape.
“What we see as the big result of this Capstone project is that we are ready to start this August,” Vestal said. “One year ago, we weren’t sure we would be ready to open these classrooms during the next school year. With the addition of Ashley’s work on the application process and her leadership with stakeholders, the district has been able to realize this vision.”
Professional Initiative and Leadership
In addition to data analysis, Delgado’s Capstone project also included serving as a primary coordinator for the district’s planning efforts and the facilitation of a LRSD advisory group for the program that met monthly.
Dr. Karen Henery, Director of MLL/ESOL Services for LRSD, noted that Delgado was a “tremendous asset” who took significant initiative in managing communications and coordinating a site visit to Nashville Metro Schools to study successful models of other dual immersion programs.
“I have truly appreciated her presence, professionalism, and the asset-based perspective she brings to this work,” Henery said. “Having someone in this role has added meaningful value to our efforts, and I would welcome the opportunity to continue hosting a Capstone intern in the future.”
The Bilingual Advantage
The move to dual immersion education is backed by extensive academic research. While traditional language classes often begin in middle or high school, early immersion in another language improves children’s natural cognitive abilities.
“Research shows that students in dual immersion programs tend to trend directly upward in literacy and retention after the third grade,” Delgado said. “While monolingual students may plateau in those areas, bilingual education emphasizes a true understanding of a subject because you master it in two languages. It builds empathy, communication skills, and an incredible foundation for future learning.”
The benefits can be seen in academic areas far beyond test scores. By bringing students of different native languages together in one classroom, the program places everyone on a level playing field. It allows students to serve as “experts” for one another, boosting confidence and fostering collaborative learning.
A Model for the State
As the first public school district to pursue this specific state-approved model, LRSD is setting a precedent for the rest of Arkansas. During the spring semester, Delgado presented her findings and the application process at the Bilingual Dual Immersion Summit, offering a roadmap for other districts interested in establishing similar initiatives.
“We get to set the standard,” Vestal said. “Being one of the largest districts in the state, we should be a leader in this work. This program ensures that students can build their language skills without disruption from kindergarten through graduation.”
The pilot program will begin with three classrooms across the two schools in southwest Little Rock. Due to high demand, with some sites already seeing more interest than available seats, LRSD hopes to expand the program to additional schools in the 2027-28 school year.