Over the past five decades, dual language programs in elementary, middle and high schools have grown from just one program in 1962 in Miami, Florida, to over 800 programs in public schools across the country. While that still represents a small percentage of U.S. schools, the popularity of such programs is not surprising.

“As the U.S. has become less monolingual, so has classroom instruction. Students today are just as likely to recite their multiplication tables in any number of languages other than English,” the Quarterly Americas story says. “Bilingual literacy is not only regarded by educators as a critical tool for success in today’s global business environment; it has been shown to improve students’ overall abilities.”. Read the complete text here.