| Because of the flexibility of charter schools, | | | | science, social studies), as reported on the school's |
| opportunities exist to implement a well-resourced, | | | | Web site. El Sol Santa Ana Science and Arts |
| high quality bilingual education model that is effective | | | | Academy Charter School is located in Santa Ana, |
| without the bureaucratic constraints or limitations that | | | | California, and is part of the Santa Ana Unified School |
| can result in diluted and less-effective renditions of | | | | District. It enrolled students from kindergarten |
| the model. | | | | through sixth grade in 2005 and expanded to eighth |
| By promoting academic success through innovative | | | | grade in 2007. |
| language and cultural methods in a flexible and | | | | According to the California Department of Education, |
| accountable structure, bilingual programs in charter | | | | 93.8% of the school's total student population was |
| Educational institutions can have the potential to | | | | Hispanic in the 2005-2006 school year. As of 2007, |
| advance the academic attainment of students when | | | | the school had been in operation for 5 years, and the |
| properly resourced and implemented. Below are | | | | charter was renewed for an additional 5 years, as |
| descriptions of two schools implementing bilingual | | | | reported in a message from the principal, Diana |
| education models, profiling each school's philosophy | | | | Clearwater. El Sol emphasizes and implements a |
| and instructional plan for promoting both academic | | | | dual-language immersion program in Spanish and |
| achievement and bilingualism. | | | | English. As noted on its Web page, El Sol's mission |
| The District of Columbia Bilingual Public Charter School | | | | involves the preparation of students for high school |
| (DC Bilingual) is located in Washington, D.C., and enrolls | | | | and higher-education entrance and the promotion of |
| students from pre-K to Grade 2. According to the | | | | a culture of kindness, creativity, courage, and |
| National Center for Education Statistics, for the | | | | honesty. Involvement of parents and the community |
| 2005-2006 school year, 75% of the students were | | | | is embraced at this institution. |
| of Hispanic descent. As mentioned on their Web site, | | | | In addition, the school values the multicultural heritage |
| DC Bilingual first opened its doors in September 2004 | | | | its students bring and encourages those skills |
| and shares a similar philosophy of a parent | | | | important for a "global citizenship." Values promoted |
| organization named Centro Nía. The initial enrollment | | | | at El Sol include ethics, integrity, social responsibility, |
| consisted of 122 students in early pre-K through | | | | and positive identity, as described in the school's Web |
| kindergarten. | | | | site. Its educational focus prepares students to enter |
| The mission of DC Bilingual involves the | | | | high school with competent literacy and math and |
| implementation of a dual language program, with the | | | | science skills, including abilities in the arts as well. |
| goal of promoting bilingualism and biliteracy skills. DC | | | | The two schools described above are exemplary |
| Bilingual's philosophy of learning conceptualizes it as a | | | | models of early-design bilingual charter schools. These |
| process that focuses on students' interaction with | | | | schools adhere closely to the program quality criteria |
| their peers, teachers, school staff, and home | | | | for high-quality bilingual schools. They demonstrate |
| community. The school's curriculum model promotes | | | | that given the autonomy allowed in the charter |
| the use of English and Spanish during instruction | | | | schools system, support and maintenance of bilingual |
| throughout the school day. | | | | instruction through charter schools may be a viable |
| Students are grouped according to their dominant | | | | option for culturally and linguistically diverse student |
| languages for literacy instruction, but mixed grouping | | | | populations and communities. |
| occurs during other school subjects (e.g., math, | | | | |