The Dual Immersion Academy of Salinas (DIAS) will be opened as a Dual Bilingual Immersion Academy. Dual language programs or two-way bilingual immersion are programs where two groups of students are engaged in second language study for 5-7 years in an effort to develop high levels of bilingualism and bi-literacy. 

DIAS will be the fourth school in the district to offer the 90:10 dual immersion model but unique as it is the first school in the district to offer a school-wide dual immersion program.

In addition to immersing students in language and literacy, the educational program at DIAS will integrate and emphasize STEAM- Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. STEAM is an interdisciplinary, cross-curriculum, real-world process of teaching where core subjects are interwoven, not taught in isolation, much like what students will encounter in this world of global diversity. Rigorous, core curriculum is applied through STEAM-focused projects/activities and aligned to board-adopted curriculum, Common Core State Standards, Next Generation State Standards and State Standards for English Language Development.

The Dual Immersion Academy of Salinas (DIAS) will open its doors to kindergarteners, transitional kindergarten and preschool this fall!  Classes begin on August 12, 2015. We are projecting to open with approximately 125 students in Pre-School through Kindergarten. In addition, there will be two classrooms dedicated to the district’s preschool Speech and Language Program.  Each of the subsequent years, a grade level will be added. In the 2021-2022 school year, DIAS will be serving preschool through 6th grade students.