English Learner & Multilingual Learner Policies

The San Bernardino City Unified School District Multilingual Initiative provides a pathway that engages all students in high level, multilingual learning opportunities.

Multilingual Initiative Plan:

• English
• Spanish
   

El Plan de la Iniciativa Multilingüe

El Distrito Escolar Unificado de la Ciudad de San Bernardino está a punto de lanzar el gran y revolucionario esfuerzo de diseñar un plan general para una Iniciativa Multilingüe. Esta iniciativa proveerá una trayectoria que involucre a todos los estudiantes en oportunidades de aprendizaje multilingüe y de alto nivel.

What is a FLES Program?

FLES stands for Foreign Language in Elementary School

What Does a FLES Program Look Like?

A FLES program is a designated period of time, either during the school day or after-school, where students engage in the study of a foreign language.

What Are The Benefits of a FLES Program?

• FLES program foster a climate of collaboration and cross-cultural understanding and respect.
• Students develop strong interpersonal skills that help them appreciate and respect other cultures.
• In today's global economy, speaking more than one language gives students a competitive advantage in various areas, including college applications and job searches.

What FLES Programs are Offered in SBCUSD?

Our FLES programs are currently in the development stage and will continue to expand.

We currently have a K-5 FLES program, the Spanish Enrichment program, at one school, where Spanish is taught 1-2.5 hours per day depending on the grade level. Additional FLES programs are currently in the planning stage.

What Is a Heritage Language?

In the Center for Applied Linguistics 2010 brief, "What is a heritage language?", author Ann Kelleher, University of California, Davis, explains that the term “heritage language” is used to identify languages other than the dominant language (or languages) in a given social context.

In the United States, English is the de facto dominant language (not an “official” language, but the primary language used in government, education, and public communication); thus, any language other than English can be considered a “heritage language” for speakers of that language.

A Heritage Language Program provides instruction in English and in another language for non-English speakers or students with limited literacy skills in their first language.