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Aurora Public Schools' first dual-language magnet school could help shape bilingual education across Colorado.
Why it matters: Escuela Bilingüe Betty Benavidez treats Spanish as an academic asset rather than a barrier students must overcome.
The northwest Aurora school occupies the former Sixth Avenue Elementary School and is named for the first Latina elected to Colorado's Legislature.
What they're saying: "I'd like our families and community to say this is a destination for bilingual education," principal Anabel Rafoul tells me.
The big picture: Roughly 15,000 APS students speak Spanish as a first language.
Driving the news: About 150 preschoolers through first-graders attend Benavidez, which opened this month.
How it works: The program maintains an even mix of students who speak Spanish at home and those who primarily speak English or another language.
What's next: APS will add one grade each year. The school begins fifth grade classes in 2030–31.
The bottom line: The goal is for students to read and write proficiently in both languages.
