The fact: Every year, more than 50 kindergartners enroll in Albany schools needing help learning English.

The research: Children learn English more quickly, along with math and science and other academic subjects, when at least some of their instruction is in their native language.

The plan: Have a committee study whether Albany can deliver better services to English language learners (ELLs) through more bilingual classes, particularly at the young elementary level.

Albany schools have established a 10-member committee, made up of administrators, ELL teachers and a school board member, to explore this idea. The plan is to present a recommendation to the school board in December or January and maybe have a pilot program in a classroom or two by next fall.

Committee members plan to visit other districts, meet with parents to gauge interest and immerse themselves in the literature surrounding bilingual education.

Most English language learners in Albany schools have Spanish as their first language, so the committee plans to concentrate on Spanish as the language of instruction, said Ellen Carlson, the district’s incoming ELL coordinator.

Bilingual program options abound, said Frank Caropelo, principal at Waverly Elementary School and a member of the committee. The committee mostly will be comparing “one-way” instruction, in which Spanish-speaking children are taught partly in Spanish and partly in English, or “dual” instruction, in which both Spanish- and English-speaking pupils are taught both languages together.

One-way programs are meant to help Spanish speakers learn English and improve their academics. Dual programs are meant to get everyone to proficiency in two languages.

“They’re going to look at both options and see what works best for our district,” Caropelo said.

Currently Albany has seven “ELL schools” — Sunrise, Tangent, Lafayette, Waverly and Periwinkle elementary schools, Calapooia Middle School and South Albany High School.

At these schools, children who need it leave their regular classes for part of the day to work on their English with an ELL instructor. Though these instructors have special training, they aren’t necessarily bilingual, Carlson said.

Children who attend other schools don’t receive direct ELL services, although they continue to be tested for need, Carlson said.

The controversy

Bilingual programs can be controversial, incoming ELL coordinator Ellen Carlson acknowledges. Some people object to increased emphasis on a language other than English. Others believe the “sink or swim” method is the best way for young children to learn.

Research indicates the contrary, she says. Children have a much harder time with math and science if they’re being asked to grasp concepts in a language they don’t speak. Being able to study concepts first in their native tongue, then in English, leads to quicker mastery of both concept and language.

Existing ELL programs are doing their best, Carlson says. “We just believe we can do better.”