This digest describes the implementation of a successful district-wide elementary school foreign language (FLES) program that resulted from the superintendent's vision to have all students in the district study a common foreign language throughout their schooling. This vision was based on the superintendent's belief that American secondary school graduates in the 21st century will be competing for positions in which bilingual language proficiency will offer a considerable advantage. The digest highlights five overarching themes believed to be key to the success of the program: careful and collaborative planning and evaluation; gradual program expansion; attention to progress in proficiency; high quality foreign language faculty; and reflective practitioners. (VWL)