Applications opened Feb. 1 for Fort Bend ISD’s new dual language Spanish-English and Mandarin immersion programs.
The big picture
The programs—which will give students the opportunity to be taught in two languages—are open to incoming kindergarten students for the 2026-27 school year, with intentions for children to continue through fifth grade, district officials announced in a Jan. 29 news release.
Students presently in kindergarten or higher can not be chosen, per the release. However, additional kindergarten cohorts will be added annually.
Sorting out details
The district’s goals for implementing these programs are to strengthen students’ education, increase bilingualism and biliteracy, and expand student knowledge beyond the classroom, according to the district website.
The district will offer two separate programs available exclusively to students residing in the district, including the:
- Spanish-English program, which will be 80% Spanish and 20% English, eventually changing to a 50-50 split by the third grade
- Mandarin immersion program, which will be 70% English and 30% Mandarin for all six years of elementary school
Students applying for either program may be required to take a language assessment, per the website.
Looking ahead
Applications for the program are set to close Feb. 28, per the website. Due to the limited number of spots available, the district will use a lottery system to determine who will participate.
The enrollment and onboarding processes will take place in the coming months, with final commitments and family orientation beginning in May, although campus locations have not been announced. Additionally, transportation will not be provided to students.
