Program Description

Shirley Rominger Elementary School (SRIS) serves students in grades 3 through 5 as part of the Winters Joint Unified School District's Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program. Our DLI program is designed to develop bilingualism, biliteracy, high academic achievement, and sociocultural competence in both English and Spanish.

At the third-grade level, the language allocation follows a 60:40 model, where 60% of instruction is delivered in Spanish and 40% in English. As students progress to fourth and fifth grade, the program shifts to a 50:50 balance, ensuring equal instruction in both languages.

Through rigorous academics and culturally responsive teaching, students in our DLI program gain the skills needed to thrive in a multicultural and multilingual world. Our dedicated educators implement Sobrato Early Academic Language (SEAL) strategies to support language development and content mastery across subjects.

Program Size and Enrollment Process

  The size of the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program is determined by parent interest and the availability of qualified instructional staff. Each year, families of incoming students and those not yet enrolled in the program are encouraged to express their interest in DLI. All interested families are invited to an informational meeting to learn about the program’s design, expectations, and enrollment process. The District carefully considers all enrollment requests and makes every effort to accommodate families. If a request cannot be granted, the District will provide an explanation. To support effective planning, returning families are asked to complete a Re-Enrollment Form each year to ensure appropriate staffing and instructional resources.  

Staffing and Program Resources

All teachers in the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program are required to hold an appropriate teaching credential and an additional authorization to instruct in Spanish. Each DLI classroom is provided with instructional materials in both English and Spanish across all subject areas. Additionally, the District’s Local Control Accountability Plan ensures access to supplemental materials and resources to support language equity in all DLI classrooms. To enhance instructional practices, all DLI teachers participate in Sobrato Early Academic Language (SEAL) training. DLI teachers also meet monthly to collaborate and refine their instructional strategies.  

District Commitment and Program History

The Winters Joint Unified School District values the ability to speak multiple languages and is committed to providing high-quality bilingual education. In the spring of 2013, the Board of Trustees voted to implement a Developmental Bilingual Education (DBE) program, which launched in the fall of 2013 with classes in kindergarten through third grade, later expanding to a K–5 model.

In 2023, to better serve the Winters community and align with research-based best practices, the District transitioned from the DBE model to a 90:10 Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program. Research supports that 90:10 DLI programs provide significant cognitive, academic, and sociocultural benefits. Studies show that students in 90:10 models develop higher levels of bilingualism and biliteracy, achieve at or above grade level in both languages, and gain long-term advantages in problem-solving, critical thinking, and cultural competency. The model also fosters greater equity by ensuring that both English learners and native English speakers have access to rigorous instruction in both languages.

The Board of Trustees and District Leadership remain dedicated to the long-term success of the DLI program. Additionally, to support bilingualism beyond elementary school, the District offers a Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) program at Winters Middle School and Winters High School, along with Spanish electives.