By Associated Press - Wednesday, May 25, 2016

DOVER, Del. (AP) - State officials are announcing plans to expand the number of public schools in Delaware offering language immersion programs.

Officials say more than 2,100 students in kindergarten through third grade are learning in Chinese and Spanish immersion classrooms this year in 16 schools. By the fall, that number will increase to almost 3,000 students in 22 schools in kindergarten through fourth grade.

Immersion programs involve students spending half of each school day learning in Mandarin Chinese or Spanish.

Gov. Jack Markell says the goal is to expand immersion programs to nearly 8,000 students in 10 years, with “continuation programs” being established in higher grades starting in 2017-18 academic year.

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