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ATDLE is Looking for an Exceptional TWBI/Dual Immersion programs of excellence! Does this describe your school? Or district?

ATDLE recognizes that there are many outstanding TWBI/DLI programs in the United States. The District of Distinction award stands as a beacon of recognition and honor for exemplary Dual Language and Two-Way Bilingual Immersion programs across the United States. This esteemed award celebrates districts that exhibit outstanding commitment and achievement in fostering linguistic diversity and academic excellence. For districts with an extensive network of TWBI/DLI programs, the award is granted at the district level, showcasing their dedication to bilingual education on a broader scale. For nearly 30 years, this prestigious accolade has been bestowed annually at the esteemed Annual Two-Way Bilingual Immersion Conference in June.

Please Note: The deadline for nominees to submit their completed applications is February 28, 2026.

Click here to submit your application!

Applications

Districts or schools seeking the esteemed recognition must meet stringent criteria. This includes implementing a Two-Way Bilingual Immersion (TWBI) or Dual Language Immersion (DLI) pathway for all of the grade levels in the district or school and demonstrating commitment through a comprehensive district or school plan. Additionally, representatives from both language communities must be able to articulate program components and support student success. Financial and curricular backing from the Superintendent and Board is essential, along with the active participation of program leadership and highly qualified educators. The application process involves completing a nomination form, followed by a Zoom meeting to assess readiness for review. Next, an ATDLE visitation of TWBI/DLI schools occurs, including interviews with administrators and community members. Performance data in both languages is then scrutinized to determine eligibility for the District or school of Distinction status.

Purpose of This Award

  • To recognize and honor the Dual Language and Two-Way Bilingual Immersion programs of excellence throughout the United States.
  • This award has been in place for almost 30 years and is awarded at the National Two-Way Bilingual Immersion Conference each year.

Criteria for the Award

  • A TWBI/DLI pathway is in place to ensure continuity through the grade levels represented in the district/school.
  • The district/school has a district/school plan or framework that demonstrates the district’s commitment to continuity through the grade levels.
  • Family representatives from both the “Target Language” members and “English Language” members are able to articulate the program components and their role in supporting student success in both languages.
  • The Superintendent and Board demonstrate financial and curricular support for the TWBI/DLI program.
  • The District/school works to ensure that the program leadership and teachers participate fully in the implementation of the program goals and work to place highly qualified and competent educators at each school.

Process

  1. Districts or schools may begin the application process by filling out this form.
  2. A Zoom Meeting is set with district/school officials to determine their willingness or readiness to enter a program review.
  3. District/school schedules an ATDLE visitation of the TWBI/DLI schools.
  4. ATDLE conducts interviews with school and district administrators and community members to discuss the program design, curriculum, assessments, parent engagement levels, and accountability system.
  5. District or school presents multiple years of performance data in both the languages: English and the target language for the ATDLE team to review.

  6. ATDLE will use the appendix A template for self-evaluation data collection and scoring and rubrics from the Guiding Principles for Dual Language Education third edition as a template to create the criteria for scoring.

Deadline for the application is February 28, 2026.

Click Here For The Nomination Form!