Sebastien DeClerck at Ventura High School

Kindergarten teacher Guadalupe Flores teaches her students to read in English in a dual language Kindergarten classroom, Thursday, Mar. 3, 2011 at Sheridan Way School, in Ventura. This is the first year the kindergarten and first grade classes at Sheridan Way School are in taught in both English and Spanish.

The Ventura Unified School District has been named district of the year by a nonprofit organization that advocates for effective language programs in California schools. The California Association for Bilingual Education recognized the K-12 district's programs for English-language learners, its performance on statewide exams in both English and Spanish, and its efforts to promote bilingualism and biliteracy. "It is really a huge honor for us," said Superintendent Trudy Tuttle Arriaga, who is fluent in English, Spanish and sign language. It also provides "an opportunity for us to be a model school district." The association noted Ventura Unified's success with dual-language programs. In two-way immersion or dual-language programs, English learners and speakers learn two languages, unlike some bilingual programs in which native Spanish speakers learn in Spanish until they master English. Ventura Unified's first two-way immersion class started at Montalvo School in 2000. That founding class is now in high school, and the district has expanded its program into middle and high schools. In addition, the district has started dual-language programs at Sheridan Way and Will Rogers elementary schools. The district, which has received several grants to cover costs, also offers various options for families of English-language learners on its campuses, bilingual preschool classes, and Spanish for Careers courses at Ventura and Buena high schools. Ventura Unified officials know the value of children learning a second language, Arriaga said. "For me, it's an area of passion." Language tests taken in spring 2010 show about 70 percent of sixth-graders in the dual-language class at Anacapa Middle School are fluent Spanish speakers. Most who started at Montalvo and went on to the program at Anacapa met college-entrance requirements in Spanish before ninth grade, according to the district. Officials said it takes time for English learners to show proficiency in English, but about 45 percent of fifth-grade English-language learners at Montalvo scored proficient or better in math and English language arts. Ventura Unified hasn't always been lauded for its language programs. In 2002, the district underwent a rigorous state review to improve the education of its limited-English students after an evaluation found programs were lacking. "We took that very, very seriously," Arriaga said. She remembers being at a workshop not long after that and telling Jennifer Robles, bilingual education programs director, that someday they would be the ones presenting a seminar. Officials have overhauled middle and high school programs for English learners, using new curriculum and making sure advanced English classes for the students meet college-entrance requirements, Robles said. In June 2009, Ventura Unified also began offering graduates a multilingual seal on their diplomas. About 150 students have received the seal so far. Ventura Unified was chosen as district of the year because of its promotion of bilingualism and biliteracy, strong parent involvement and training programs, said Maria Quezada, the association's CEO. "We're preparing our students for the 21st century. This is a global world, and the more languages students know, the more advantages they will have," Quezada said. The district will receive the award at the association's annual conference March 23 in Long Beach. Montalvo School also will receive a seal of excellence award from the group. � 2011 Ventura County Star. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.