UC Irvine

Known for its sunny beaches and mild Mediterranean climate, its tourist attractions and international conventions, San Diego is a popular travel destination. Yet this cultured and cosmopolitan city has another face, as a destination for new immigrants. Aninnovative program has begun to energize schools in neighborhoods in The Southeast, a diverse area with nearly 90% of the population distributed among Latino, Filipino/Southeast Asian, and African-American communities. This article describes a partnership between UC Irvine and the San Diego Unified School District that has utilized arts integration to enhance the English language development of immigrant children in kindergarten through second grade.