Developing a Bilingual Education Program for Middle Schools in Richland School District 01: Promoting Literacy Through Culturally-Relevant Pedagogy

Authors

• Paige E. Swanson, University of South CarolinaFollow

Abstract

The following study explores how bilingual and immersive language learning programs can enhance multi-subject literacy and academic engagement among at-risk African American middle school students in Richland County School District One (R01) in Columbia, South Carolina. Through a qualitative thematic analysis utilizing a literature review of fifty sources that explore education, linguistics, and psychology, the research identifies intersections between bilingual education, culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP), and literacy development in at-risk youth populations. Six themes were revealed by the analysis. From these themes, the results conclude that African American students experience greater academic success when classroom instruction integrates their cultural identities, focuses on collaborative learning strategies, utilizes art-based activities, and validates nontraditional literacies such as African American Vernacular English (AAVE). Findings also suggest that bilingual and immersive approaches can improve attention, comprehension, and student confidence in English and mathematics. These insights informed the development of a twoquarter Portuguese-English bilingual curriculum for African American students in R01 middle schools. The proposed program emphasizes cultural relevance, community-building, and multi-subject literacy with the primary aim of closing achievement gaps. Future directions include assessing program feasibility, developing programs with different linguistic focuses (i.e., Spanish, French, American Sign Language), and performing additional thematic analyses focused on the experiences of different minority demographics.

Recommended Citation

Swanson, Paige E. (2026) "Developing a Bilingual Education Program for Middle Schools in Richland School District 01: Promoting Literacy Through Culturally-Relevant Pedagogy," Caroliniana Undergraduate Research Journal: Vol. 1: Iss. 1, Article 9.
Available at: https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/usc-curj/vol1/iss1/9