Santa Fe Standard

Santa Fe Public Schools (SFPS) is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by emphasizing the importance of bilingual education within its district. The district offers various dual language and heritage language programs that aim to make students bilingual and biliterate in English and Spanish.

Daniel Pastrana, executive director of SFPS's Language and Culture Department, is a strong advocate for these programs. He highlighted the district’s dedication to promoting language equity and respect for linguistic diversity.

"Our goal is to ensure that all students, regardless of their language background, have the opportunity to become fully bilingual and biliterate by the time they finish their programs," Pastrana said. "Bilingualism is not just about mastering two languages; it’s about creating bridges between cultures, opening doors for future opportunities and fostering a greater sense of identity and pride in students."

SFPS has implemented dual-language instruction across multiple campuses, aiming to develop students who are academically strong as well as culturally aware.

"Our bilingual programs are about equity and inclusion. We are setting up students for success by giving them the tools to navigate a multicultural, multilingual world. This is the power of bilingual education in Santa Fe," Pastrana added.

Cesar Chavez Elementary offers a dual language K-5 program where both English and Spanish-speaking students are encouraged to become bilingual by fifth grade. The school employs a diverse teaching staff including native Spanish speakers.

El Camino Real Academy serves pre-K through 8th grade with an immersion approach that starts with 80 percent instruction in Spanish in kindergarten. By third grade, instruction is balanced equally between English and Spanish.

Salazar Elementary combines bilingual education with an emphasis on technology and critical thinking, aiming to create lifelong learners proficient in both languages.

Sweeney Elementary provides a 50/50 dual language program that equally emphasizes English and Spanish instruction. The school’s diverse teaching staff reflects its community's diversity.

Ramirez Thomas Elementary's Dual Language program serves kindergarten through third-grade students whose heritage language is Spanish. The program will expand one grade level per year until it includes kindergarten through sixth grade by the 2026-27 school year.

Kearny Elementary offers a heritage language program focused on cultural heritage, social justice, and equity. Students receive daily Spanish instruction along with English language development apart from core English classes.