Skip To Main Content

Select a School

80/20 Language Model Survey

About the Survey

Last spring, families at Green Central, Emerson, and Las Estrellas were invited to share their thoughts on a proposed change to the Spanish Dual Language model.

The change would shift from a 90/10 to an 80/20 language allocation—meaning that English would be introduced earlier while maintaining a strong foundation in Spanish.

We received more than 260 responses from families across all grade levels and language backgrounds.

Who Responded

We heard from a diverse group of families across all three schools:

By school site:

Graph showing responses by school site: 86 Emerson, 113 Green Central, 68 Las Estrellas

By grade level

Graph that shows respondents by grade level of their students, with 26 pre-K, 67 kindergarten, 65 first grade, 59 second grade, 52 third grade, 50 fourth grade, and 29 fifth grade.

By racial/ethnic identity:

Graph showing how respondents identify, with 54% of respondents identifying as white, 44% identifying as Spanish, Latino or of Hispanic origin, and single digit percentages of African American, Asian, and American Indian or Alaskan Native.

By language spoken at home:

Graph showing responses by language: 95 Spanish, 140 English, 30 bilingual, 2 other

What We Heard

What Families Asked For

To support a smooth transition, families are recommending...

  • More clear communication about the plan and timeline
  • Professional development and planning time for teachers
  • Resources to help with literacy at home
  • Ongoing updates and opportunities for feedback

What’s Next

We are listening closely and remain committed to keeping families informed and involved every step of the way.

Based on the strong feedback we received, it is clear that families support a shift toward more balanced language development, greater equity, and stronger preparation for academic success. As a result, Minneapolis Public Schools will transition to the 80/20 Dual Language model beginning in the 2025–26 school year at Green Central, Emerson, and Las Estrellas.

Thank you for your trust, your feedback, and your partnership in building a strong future for bilingual education in our schools. Together, we are creating more opportunities for every student to thrive in two languages.