FLES is an acronym for Foreign Language in the Elementary School. In the FY 13 School Board adopted budget, the LCPS Spanish FLES program provides instruction to all students in grades 4 and 5. In grades 4 and 5, instruction will be 30 minutes once per week at all elementary schools. 

   The goals of the FLES program are to expose students to a second language at an early age and to encourage awareness of cultural differences.  These goals are grounded on the following principles: 

• Children acquire language naturally and can readily learn a second language if the environment for the second language is similar to that of the native language environment.
• Children understand the concept of culture through comparisons of cultures studied with their own.

   The Spanish FLES program was piloted in 2002 at 10 schools. The following year 14 schools were added with Spanish instruction in grades 1 and 2. Then 27 schools had Spanish instruction in grades 1 through 3. In SY 2011-2012, all Loudoun County Public School students in grades 1 through 5 received Spanish instruction. Second language acquisition is considered one of the most powerful “brain builders.” Research shows that children derive many benefits—cognitive, academic, societal -- from early language instruction.