Ryan Wertz and Kathleen Shelton, Education Program Specialists for World Languages and Cultures, Ohio Department of Education and Workforce
Ohio’s Dual Language/Immersion Schools Cultivate Bilingual Brilliance and Cross-Cultural Awareness
Across Ohio, a growing number of dual language/immersion (DL/I) schools are creating transformative opportunities for students to learn new languages and cultures. From urban hubs like Cleveland and Columbus to smaller districts like those in Lebanon and Mansfield, eighteen schools are equipping students with linguistic proficiency, cultural agility, and critical thinking skills in an increasingly interconnected world.
The Global Ambassadors Language Academy (GALA) in Cleveland champions innovation by offering content instruction in both Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. Students navigate core academic subjects while being immersed in these languages, fostering not only proficiency but also a deeper appreciation of global cultures. Similarly, Cleveland Municipal’s Buhrer Dual Language Academy and Luís Muñoz Marín Dual Language Academy provide Spanish-English immersion programs, opening doors to effective communication in one of Ohio’s growing multilingual communities.
The benefits of dual language/immersion programs extend well beyond linguistic proficiency. Research consistently demonstrates that dual language students excel in problem-solving, demonstrate heightened creativity, and exhibit greater understanding of different perspectives. The award-winning Mansfield Spanish Immersion School exemplifies how these benefits are put into action. By learning academic content in Spanish, students gain confidence and intercultural competence that will serve them throughout life.
Central Ohio also embraces this educational model. The Columbus Spanish Immersion Academy, Ecole Kenwood French Immersion School, and Columbus World Language Middle School combine and vertically articulate linguistic rigor with cultural exposure. Columbus North International High School raises the bar even further by offering courses in both French and Spanish to students who have come up through these programs, preparing them for global citizenship. Together, these schools reflect a belief in the power of multilingualism to nurture leadership and innovation.
In Lebanon, the Spanish immersion programs at Donovan Elementary School, Bowman Primary School, and Berry Intermediate School ensure that younger learners start their bilingual journey early. These programs are becoming recognized for their ability to seamlessly integrate language and culture learning with academic instruction, creating a strong foundation for lifelong learning.
In Cincinnati, the Academy of Multilingual Immersion Studies (A.M.I.S.) and La Casita Learning Center highlight the importance of multilingual education. By providing Spanish immersion opportunities to a varied student body, these schools promote academic excellence and cultural appreciation across the communities they serve. Cincinnati’s Oak Hills Local School District joins the cause in Southwestern Ohio, with Spanish immersion programs at C.O. Harrison, J.F. Dulles, and Oakdale Elementary Schools that deepen students’ engagement with the language and culture beginning in the first grade. A dedicated language and culture course for immersion students each year in the district’s three middle schools articulates right up through 9th grade at the high school, leading to AP Spanish in the 10th grade and higher-level CCP options for 11th and 12th graders.
The benefits of dual language immersion are quickly coming into focus in the developing program at Toledo Public Schools’ Escuela SMART Academy, and in the state’s newest dual language/immersion program at Perrin Woods Elementary School in the Springfield City School District. Students at these schools are working hard to secure academic gains across all subjects while achieving biliteracy and cultural competence and fostering connections to their communities and the wider world.
In keeping with widespread DL/I expansion around the country, Ohio’s growth in dual language/immersion programming also will continue to increase during the upcoming 2025-2026 academic year when the Dublin City School District opens a new bilingual Spanish-English preschool program. This program will be especially innovative in that it will combine its dual language model with an inclusion program – a first in Ohio.
In closing, Ohio’s dual language and immersion schools represent a dynamic tapestry of workforce possibilities for the students who attend them. They offer not just the gift of language but also the tools to navigate the complexities of a global society. For world language educators, these schools serve as an inspiring reminder of the transformative power of bilingual and bicultural education—one dynamic classroom at a time.
References
Steele, J. L., Slater, R. O., Zamarro, G., Miller, T., Li, J., Burkhauser, S., & Bacon, M. (2017). Effects of dual-language immersion programs on student achievement: Evidence from lottery data. American Educational Research Journal, 54(1). Available at http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.3102/0002831216634463
Lindholm-Leary, K. (2020). Current Research Findings on Two-Way Bilingual Immersion Education. Association of Two-Way and & Dual Language Education (ATDLE). Available at: https://atdle.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/lindholmleary2020_current-research-twbi-3.pdf
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