The first year of a dual language program at Wheeling Township Elementary District 21's Walt Whitman and Robert Frost Elementary schools was a success and next year the program will be expanded, school officials said.

All kindergarten students at the two elementary schools are taking dual language classes for 30 minutes four times a week. The students are English speakers who are learning Spanish as well as Spanish-speaking students who are learning English as a second language.

Next year, recognizing the benefits of students learning a foreign language at an early age, the program will include first grade students at both schools and give students an opportunity to receive more instruction in the morning or during lunch time. The district will also be offering a dual language enrichment summer program in August.

"We've had very positive feedback from parents," said Rosemarie Meyer, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction. She noted that there is a significant number of Spanish-speaking students in the district.

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