INSTRUCTIONAL MINUTES

Once the dual language immersion (DLI) program and implementation models have been selected, the next important pedagogical decision is to determine the instructional minutes by language and content at each grade level.

• When calculating instructional minutes, be sure to count all contact in English toward the percentage of the day/week in English (e.g., English Language Development [ELD], physical education, library, computers, etc.).
• It is recommended that the percentages of instruction in each language be calculated based on the site’s daily schedule for each grade level across the span of one week, as attaining the exact percentage for each language on a daily basis can be challenging, especially if there is an early-release/minimum day each week.

Guiding Principles for Dual Language Education: Strand 1, Program Structure, Principle 1; Strand 3, Instruction, Principle 1