In a dual immersion program, students from a language minority group and English speaking students are taught in a single classroom in both languages.

Dual immersion programs are based on the idea that bilingualism is a healthy and positive advantage, and that integration of students from different backgrounds that celebrates both cultures is a positive change that will allow for a more peaceful and democratic society.
By providing a classroom in which approximately half of the class will always be learning in their non-native language, the program encourages teachers to use good teaching practices including multiple presentations of information and cooperative and discovery learning.
In addition, the use of both English and another language, called the "target language," provides a useful tool in teaching students the importance of using specific behaviors and speech patterns in different situations.

A difficulty with dual immersion is that it requires a fairly large population with the same non-English native language, and it also requires an English speaking population of similar size and interested in having their children educated in that language.
Further, there are few programs available above 5th grade, and there are sometimes difficulties reaching that level because seats cannot be filled as students move away from the school because the general population tends not to be bilingual to the degree necessary to thrive in these programs above around first grade.