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Multilingual Education

Mission

Our mission is to advance equity and excellence in the education of multilingual learners in the Worcester Public Schools.

Vision

All learners will excel academically, develop multilingualism, embrace diverse identities, and civically engage in local and global communities.

Values

Asset-Based Approaches: We acknowledge and integrate the diverse linguistic and cultural practices of multilingual learners, families, and communities as essential for education.

Equity: We pursue policies and practices that ensure equitable educational opportunities for multilingual learners.

Collaboration: We partner with students, families, communities, and colleagues to fulfill our collective responsibility.

Professionalism: We commit to high standards of excellence and professional growth to strengthen our practices and programs.

Rights of English Learners

Worcester Public Schools offers several multilingual education programs for students identified as English learners (ELs).  The district will assess your child’s English language proficiency upon registration; find out more about the process.  If your child is found to be an English learner, you will receive further notification with your child’s English proficiency test results and your options for program placement.

If your child is determined to be an English learner, you have the right to:

  • choose a multilingual education program among those offered by the district;
  • visit a multilingual education program in the district;
  • attend available meetings to learn more about the multilingual education programs offered in the district;
  • request a new multilingual education program in accordance with state law; and
  • withdraw your child from a multilingual education program.

Language Opportunity for our Kids Act

In 2017, the LOOK Act became law in Massachusetts.  This law brings several changes for multilingual learners including more flexibility for multilingual programs and increased opportunities for input from parents and guardians of students identified as English learners.

Get Involved: Join Our Multilingual Learner Advisory Councils 

English Learner Parent Advisory Council (ELPAC)

The district welcomes all parents of English learners and former English learners to join the English Learner Parent Advisory Council (ELPAC).  The purpose of the ELPAC is to advise the district on matters that affect English learners.

Bilingual Education Family Advisory Council (CAFE-B)

The district welcomes all parents of students in bilingual programs to join the Bilingual Education Family Advisory Council / Comité Asesor de Familias de Educación Bilingüe (CAFE-B).  CAFE-B brings together families from all of the district’s bilingual programs (dual language and transitional bilingual education) to connect with each other and to advise the district on matters related to bilingual education.

Contact Us

For more information about any topics related to multilingual learners, please contact Jessica Mandes, Director of Multilingual Education, at 508-799-3623 or Email Jessica.

If you are out of district looking for information about a former WPS student, please send a copy of a completed and signed records release form to Nelsy Pepper via email.