Doty Elementary Launches Two-Way Bilingual Program
The Green Bay school is offering kindergarten students instruction in both English and Spanish.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Language Learning
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Doty Elementary implemented a two-way bilingual immersion program for kindergarten students during the current school year. The initiative pairs English-speaking and Spanish-speaking pupils to learn together while modeling fluent language skills for one another.
Why it matters
The district introduced the program to better serve a growing Latino student population in Green Bay. This educational approach aims to foster mutual language development by utilizing the strengths of peer-to-peer modeling.
Green Bay Area Public Schools initiated its first bilingual classes in 1996, eventually establishing the district's first two-way immersion model in 2001. Doty Elementary currently stands as the second location in the district to provide this specific instructional format.
The players
Doty Elementary
This Green Bay school serves as the second site in the district offering a two-way bilingual instruction model.
Green Bay Area Public Schools
This educational institution manages public instruction across the city and has provided bilingual classes since 1996.
Langlade Elementary
This school merged with Doty Elementary during the current school year to assist in the integration of new educational programs.
The details
Doty Elementary and Langlade Elementary merged during the current school year to support the new program. School leaders collaborated with various community organizations to develop the curriculum used by the students.
Timeline
1996: Green Bay Area Public Schools began bilingual classes.
2001: The district launched its first two-way bilingual program.
Current school year: Doty Elementary implemented the new immersion model.
Next school year: The school plans to add another bilingual classroom.
Culture Shift
This program follows a pattern set by the Green Bay Area Public Schools 1996 bilingual education initiative. It reflects a broader societal shift toward valuing dual-language proficiency in public education systems.
Families in the area now have access to a dual-language kindergarten model that emphasizes peer-led language acquisition. Parents can expect this program to grow as the school adds more classrooms and expands the curriculum in the coming years.
The takeaway
Dual-language immersion programs leverage peer-to-peer modeling to improve student fluency in both English and Spanish. Interested families should monitor school district announcements to stay informed about the upcoming expansion of these classes through the elementary grades.
What happens next
The school intends to add another bilingual classroom next school year and plans to expand the curriculum through the fifth grade.
Further reading
Learn more about local educational initiatives in the Language Learning section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WGBA.
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