Multilingual Language Learners

MULTILINGUAL LEARNER INSTRUCTION

Gloucester Public Schools provides a culturally and linguistically responsive teaching environment to ensure that all of our multilingual learners have equal access to opportunities that promote language acquisition, bilingualism, and a lifelong love of learning. We recognize, honor, and value the diverse backgrounds, histories, cultures, and ethnicities of all of our students and believe the diversity of our student body and families adds to the richness and strength of our school community and our city.

Multilingual Learners In Gloucester

Multilingual learners (MLs) are students who are native speakers of languages other than English, and who are not yet proficient  in academic English and are unable to perform academic classwork in English without language support. Gloucester Public Schools (GPS) provides high-quality instruction for all of our multilingual learners and offers rich academic and instructional programming to help identified students learn academic English as they study literature, writing, math, science, history/social studies, and the arts.

ML Services

The parent/guardian of every child entering GPS for the first time must complete a home language survey at the time of registration. If the survey indicates that the child might qualify for ML services, the district must assess the child’s academic English proficiency in four areas: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. Parents and guardians of children who qualify for ML services are informed of the benefits of ML services that are available in each of our schools to support the acquisition of English. Parents of multilingual learners have the right to “opt-out” of ML services for their child and have their child assigned to an English-only, general education classroom.

Overview of Law Supporting English Learners

On November 22, 2017, Governor Baker signed into law the LOOK Act. Broadly, the law aims to provide districts with more flexibility as to the language acquisition programs they choose to meet the needs of multilingual learners, while maintaining accountability for timely and effective English language acquisition. 

Programming for Multilingual learners in the Gloucester Public Schools

Under state law, all MLs have access to receive English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction, which is designed to teach English to MLs. All teachers of MLs who teach the core academic subjects (such as math, social studies, and science) require language specific training and hold an SEI (Sheltered English Instruction) Endorsement in addition to their teaching license.  Gloucester Public Schools offers Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) to support English learners:

• Sheltered English Instruction (SEI) English language development is incorporated throughout the day for identified ML students with SEI strategies embedded into the daily core academic content instruction. Instruction is conducted in English, with language support for students by licensed ML staff.  

Translation and Interpretation Services

All Gloucester Public Schools parents/guardians with limited English proficiency have the right to receive essential school information in their preferred language . Families in need of language services should contact their child’s teacher, school administrator or district ML Director. For more information on your right to receive language access services, please review the U.S. Department of Justice Limited English Proficient Fact Sheet.