At Ronald Reagan Elementary in Palm Desert, California, a third grader expressed happiness about completing a project, illustrating the calm and supportive environment fostered by teacher Maria Lomeli. This atmosphere marks a significant shift in California’s education landscape, where, until recently, bilingual education faced substantial political opposition. From 1998 to 2016, an English-only mandate limited bilingual programs, with advocates arguing that they hindered integration and academic progress for English learners (ELs). However, in 2016, voters repealed the mandate, allowing schools to reintroduce various bilingual programs, including dual language immersion (DLI).
