The registration form for our Literacy for Life: Building Strong Practices for Teachers of ELLs reading conference on Thursday, May 25, 2023, is now available! If you haven’t already, reserve your spot using this form.

This conference will uplift strong literacy instruction that can keep in pace with the increasing demands and changing role of literacy in today’s society through a number of keynote presentations and workshops. We will be joined by nationally recognized experts in the field of ELL education and our own NYC DOE colleagues who will engage teachers and administrators in dialogue, data-diving, and reflection. We invite you to learn with us, share your ideas and invigorate your practices!

Summer Rising 2023: Guidance on Instruction for MLs/ELLs

According to NYSED’s Summer School Handbook, all multilingual learners/English language learners (MLs/ELLs) must be provided equal opportunity to participate in summer school programs and instructional support, including instruction targeting language and literacy development and access to grade-level content. This may include small-group instruction or one-to-one support, with a maximum of a 1:50 teacher-to-student ratio through an integrated English as a New Language (ENL) co-teaching and/or standalone ENL instructional model.

For Grades K–8:
- Students enrolled in a bilingual education program during the 2022–23 school year should be offered instruction in bilingual content areas during Summer Rising, in addition to MLs/ELLs receiving the ENL instructional component.
- Sites should schedule MLs/ELLs with “Entering” or “Emerging” English language proficiency for standalone ENL. ENL teachers who serve ELLs in grades K-8 may utilize the no-cost thematic digital units made available through TeachHub. Teachers may access these lessons by selecting the ENL Standalone Units tile, then selecting the appropriate grade-level folder.
Grades 9–12:
- High school students enrolled in a bilingual education program during the 2022–23 school year should be offered instruction in bilingual content areas during the summer. To the greatest extent possible, sites serving grades 9–12 should prioritize bilingual content area classes required for graduation when planning summer offerings.
- All MLs/ELLs in grades 9–12 should be scheduled for summer programming that can increase their language, literacy, and content area learning. Schools should also offer programming that addresses the specific needs of ELL subgroups: newcomers, SIFE, long-term ELLs, and dually designated ELLs.

For more information on hiring ENL teachers to provide standalone and/or integrated ENL instruction, review the guidance on the Multilingual Learners InfoHub page. Receiving summer sites may use the RSMR report in ATS, which has been updated to include ML/ELL information to help with program planning and hiring at your summer site. For support with determining needs for staff with bilingual extensions and certified ENL teachers or for additional questions, contact your ML/ELL director.

Summer Professional Learning

The Division of Multilingual Learners is offering in-person and virtual professional learning opportunities in core curriculum and across content areas for teachers and administrators of MLs/ELLs this summer. For a comprehensive list of professional learning opportunities and registration links, visit our SharePoint calendar or review the NYC Public School course catalog. Sessions will also be posted on our instructional resource website. Educators are encouraged to refer to the webpages and catalog periodically, as additional sessions may be added. CTLE credit is available.

Extended Deadline: Apply to Cultivating Understanding and Partnership with ML/ELL Families Program

As shared in the April 4 edition of Principals Digest, the DOE has allocated funding for schools across the city serving grades K–12 with a reported percentage of English language learners (ELLs) who speak low-incidence languages (languages other than English, Spanish, or Chinese) through the Cultivating Understanding and Partnership (CUP): Strengthening ML/ELL Family Engagement program (formally known as the Family Leadership and Digital Literacy for Multilingual Learners/English Language Learners School Allocation Memorandum). Your school is invited to apply for this funding for the 2023–24 school year (SY) using the instructions below. Please note that the deadline to apply is May 19 (extended from May 5).

Schools that received the Family Leadership and Digital Literacy for MLs/ELLs (SAM #80) for the 2021–22 SY and/or 2022–23 SY should reapply using this form for returning schools by May 19 (extended from May 5). Note that returning schools will not receive funding for the 2023–24 SY unless a new application is submitted.
Schools that have not received Family Leadership and Digital Literacy for MLs/ELLs funding and have large percentages (greater than or equal to 10 percent) of immigrant and multilingual or ELL students and families that speak low-incidence languages should apply using this form for incoming schools by May 19 (extended from May 5).

Additionally, note that the following schools will receive funding priority:

Schools that have large percentages (greater than or equal to 10 percent) of immigrant and multilingual or ELL students and families that speak low incidence languages; and
Schools that received funding and fulfilled the program requirements for the 2021–22 SY and/or 2022–23 SY.

Extended Deadline: Apply for the 2023–24 Dream Squads Initiative

As shared in the April 4 edition of Principals Digest, the DOE invites middle and high schools with large populations of immigrants and multilingual learners to join Dream Squads, an optional year-long initiative comprised of a professional learning community, on-going coaching, school-based workshops, and funding support to build a welcoming school environment for immigrant students and families. Please note that the deadline to apply is May 19 (extended from May 5).

To participate in Dream Squads, schools must form a team of three or more diverse educators to serve on their Dream Squad team, and all participants must engage in a six-part professional learning series to design, implement, and sustain a welcoming school plan. Sessions will be a mix of virtual and in-person meetings, with virtual sessions taking place from 2:00–3:30 p.m. and in-person sessions from 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. from August 22–October 25. Please note that schools accepted to the Dream Squads program must:

Ensure participation of a minimum of three people who can commit to all sessions; and
Commit to creating a school plan for supporting immigrant students and their families.

Please review the Dream Squads Overview for the full schedule and expectations. To express your school’s interest in participating, complete this application by May 19 (extended from May 5). As a reminder, the DOE does not ask about or track student immigration status.

Note that selected schools will be provided per session to complete responsibilities. Also note that this program is contingent on funding availability; the program calendar is also subject to budget approval and availability.

Attend the Beyond Access Forum

The DOE is hosting the Beyond Access Forum: Scale, Sustain, Succeed, from 8:00 a.m.–2:45 p.m., on June 8 (Chancellor’s Conference Day). The Beyond Access Forum is an interactive, virtual professional-development opportunity covering topics on educational equity, digital accessibility, and inclusion. It also addresses information-fluency instruction. This June’s forum will include sessions such as:

Administrators, teachers, parent coordinators, technology single point of contacts (SPOCs), school librarians, school website content contributors, related service providers, and clinicians are all encouraged to attend. Participants will find useful information and resources, as we connect with families and work together to enhance the school experience for all students.

For more information and to register, visit the Beyond Access Forum website. Please note that Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) credit is available only to those who log in from 8:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m., on June 8. For questions, email DigitalAccessibility@schools.nyc.gov.

Bookmark our Resource Sites!

SharePoint site

How to Access it: You can find our SharePoint by clicking this link, or by navigating to the SharePoint application in your browser and searching for Multilingual Learners. You can also sign up for email alerts. Visit this SharePoint page to learn how!

You can find relevant resources to support newly arrived multilingual learners/English language learners (MLs/ELLs) and immigrant students, including newcomer ELLs, on this page on the Multilingual Learners SharePoint. You can also share these resources using this InfoHub document. You are invited to bookmark the page and refer to it periodically to access newly added resources and opportunities.

Standalone English as a New Language (ENL): In TeachHub, select the “ENL Standalone” tile under “Educator Resources” on the K-12, Elementary School, Middle School, High School, or DOE Created tabs. Add this tile to the favorites section of your TeachHub home page by clicking on the heart.
- PDF versions of all Middle School and High School units are available for your convenience to display or print. Find them on TeachHub!
World Languages: In TeachHub, select the Middle or High School Google Drive, then the Spanish folder. For guidance on these lessons, please see the Introduction to Lesson Sequences for World Language Teachers and NYC World Languages video library.
Home Language Arts/Spanish Grades K-5: In TeachHub, select the Elementary Google Drive, the grade, and then HLA. Twenty new lessons have been added for Unit 1.

View instructional videos to support multilingual learners and English language learners across content areas. Teacher- and student-facing videos are available to bring classroom lessons to life.

Questions?

Do you have questions about supporting MLs/ELLs? Reach out to your ML/ELL Policy Point on the EduDirectory.

Multilingual Monthly: May 2023

Multilingual Monthly: May 2023

Upcoming Live Events for NYC Public School Staff

COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS

FAMILY ENGAGEMENT

INSTRUCTION

Literacy for Life: Building Strong Practices for Teachers of ELLs

Summer Rising 2023: Guidance on Instruction for MLs/ELLs

Summer Professional Learning

Extended Deadline: Apply to Cultivating Understanding and Partnership with ML/ELL Families Program

Extended Deadline: Apply for the 2023–24 Dream Squads Initiative

Attend the Beyond Access Forum

Bookmark our Resource Sites!

SharePoint site

InfoHub

Instructional Resources and Professional Learning Google Site

Multilingual and Immigrant Student Support Site

Access Classroom Lessons on TeachHub