Simi Valley Unified outlines plan to open two-way Spanish–English immersion at Arroyo Elementary

The Simi Valley Unified School District on Tuesday presented plans to open a two-way English–Spanish dual-language immersion program at Arroyo Elementary starting next school year, aiming to launch two transitional-kindergarten and two kindergarten classes and a waiting list.

District presenters said the program will use an 80/20 Spanish-first instructional model for TK–grade 1, with incremental increases in English instruction so that by grades 4–5 students receive roughly 50% instruction in each language. Principal Calcagno (introduced by the district) and Dr. Jacobson described classroom balance goals—ideally 50% Spanish-dominant and 50% English-dominant students per class—and a recruitment push that included targeted phone calls to Spanish-speaking families, school tours, parish outreach and individual family meetings.

Matt Guzzo, the district’s Director of Secondary Education, and the presenters said staff assessed language dominance with play-based developmental measures and held more than 90 one-on-one parent meetings to explain program commitments. The district also described a parent–school contract intended to secure continuity through elementary school and minimize midstream withdrawals.

Officials outlined teacher recruitment and training: existing bilingual teachers and Spanish-speaking support staff were retained, two new bilingual primary teachers have been hired for the coming year, and the district scheduled multi-day training with the California Association of Bilingual Educators and a DLI institute in July to align instructional practice.

Presenters emphasized site logistics—classroom locations, furniture, library bilingual collections, recess and bell schedule coordination where two schools share a campus—and after-school program plans to ensure Spanish-speaking support in extended-day offerings. Board members asked about projected class counts; the presenters said the fall opening will include two TK and two K classes and that community interest has produced a waiting list.

The board did not take a final vote on program authorization at this meeting; the presentation was provided as information with follow-up work planned on logistics and continued community outreach.