Multilingual Learners Department

The mission of the Randolph Public Schools Multilingual Education Department is to empower all multilingual students to excel both within and beyond the classroom. We are committed to offering the highest quality educational experiences in our schools by providing explicit language instruction and targeted supports to ensure equitable access to meaningful and rigorous learning opportunities that engage all students in cultivating essential knowledge and skills to prepare them to reach their fullest potential.

At the heart of the RPS Multilingual Education Department’s vision for student success is our belief that “Multilingualism is a superpower”. Thus, we strive to foster thriving learning environments in which all multilingual learners and their families have a sense of belonging and are known, respected and valued for the linguistic and cultural assets they bring to our community.

We are excited to announce that our first round of Seal of Biliteracy testing will take place on December 3rd and 4th for our high school students. We have 29 scholars who have registered to take one (or more) language assessments. Please join us in cheering them on as they showcase their fluency and literacy in languages other than English. Their hard work and dedication are a proud celebration of our district's language and cultural diversity!

Why the Seal of Biliteracy Matters

The Seal of Biliteracy is more than a recognition—it’s a valuable achievement for students who can read, write, speak, and understand two or more languages. Earning the Seal:

• Celebrates students’ cultural and linguistic strengths

• Provides a special distinction on high school transcripts and diplomas

• Can lead to college credit or advanced placement in language courses

• Gives students a competitive edge for careers in a global job market

• Builds confidence and pride in their multilingual identities

Missed the sign up for this round? Not to worry! A second testing session will be offered in April, with sign-ups opening mid-February. More details will be shared as we get closer to those dates.

Letters were sent home recently for students who have been identified as Multilingual Learners, indicating their placement in the English Learner program. If you received one of these letters, you may have some questions about what this means.

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) regulations require that all schools determine the language(s) spoken in each student’s home in order to identify and support their specific language needs. This information is essential for schools to provide meaningful instruction for all students and is gathered through the use of a Home Language Survey (HLS), which is a required part of the school registration packet. Every newly enrolled student whose HLS indicates that a language other than English is spoken at home must be screened for English language proficiency. The screening process is conducted on an individual basis, with the language proficiency test administered by a licensed, experienced English Learner educator who has been trained to use the screening assessments.

A student who is identified as an English learner (EL) after a language screening assessment must be placed in an EL program to develop his/her academic English proficiency so that the student can participate meaningfully and equally in the district’s educational program (603 CMR 14.04).

Randolph Public schools follows the state program model for Sheltered English Immersion, or SEI. In this model, students receive targeted support from their classroom teachers to develop mastery of academic content and language simultaneously. Students also receive direct English language instruction from a licensed ESL teacher. This instruction can happen in the student's classroom or in a separate instructional group. In grades 6-12, this instruction is a separate class period on the student's schedule.

If you have more questions about your student's specific English Learner instruction, please reach out the their ML Teacher or to the ML Department at 781-961-6220, extension 1535. Or, click the video below to find a playlist in multiple languages.

Research indicates that people who speak more than one language develop a better memory, a stronger talent for problem-solving, an improved ability to concentrate, and a deeper creativity than people who speak only one language.

Thank you to all the families and staff that supported our first round of Language and Literacy series, in partnership with the Turner Free Library! We spent three Saturday mornings engaging in activities and crafts designed to support families in building language and literacy at home. We read books in multiple languages, created bookmarks to support talking about books and showcased creativity through art and play!

Students at the RCMS Multicultural Event showcase their cultural identities!

The English Language Parent Advisory Council (ELPAC) is a group of parents, caregivers, and school staff who work together to support English learners in our schools. The council provides a space for families to share feedback, learn about school programs and resources, and help plan activities that celebrate our multilingual community. ELPAC ensures that families’ voices guide decisions that affect their children’s education.

We value our families, and your experiences and ideas matter. By joining the English Language Parent Advisory Council, you can help shape programs, events, and supports for our multilingual learners. This is a meaningful way to share your voice, connect with other families, and partner with the school to ensure every student has what they need to thrive.

For more information, contact the ML Department at 781-961-6220 x1535 or email the Assistant Director for Multilingual Learning, Kait Zanzerkia, at zanzerkiak@randolph.k12.ma.us.