High Tech High

Across the State of California, about one in five students who enter school speaking another language in their household other than English are classified as "long-term English learners" (LTELs). These are students who, after six or more years of English-language instruction, have not achieved fluency according to the state framework. Considering that one of HTH's Design principles is Equity, our team takes this statistic seriously and is working to shift that trajectory for its students.

High Tech High is a charter school network serving TK-12th grade students at 16 schools across San Diego County. Our current EML population is 418 students and our Long Term English Learner population is 158 students. Throughout our six high schools and five middle schools, our total EML population is 192 students, out of which, 152 or 79% are LTELs. Our goal is to ensure that we are viewing this population of students through an assets based lens, recognizing our students linguistic and cultural assets.

Engaging in empathy interviews and student-centered design, the emergent multilingual learning (EML) team learned that some students classified as LTELs needed support in understanding language classifications and their learning trajectory. In response to this need, the team developed a one-on-one check in and goal setting system between coordinators and students. These conversations happen twice per year - at the beginning and midpoint of the year, just before students take the state language assessment, known as ELPAC. These conversations are then shared back with classroom teachers and students' families, so that everyone can support these students' success.

In addition to supporting students with the LTEL designation, High Tech High also works with students to create EML student profiles that are shared with teachers. These documents help shift the language-learner designation away from a technical label and into an opportunity to get to know students at a deeper level, where their linguistic and cultural heritage becomes part of their larger learning story. They also engage families in various presentations about the ELPAC and language learning in their schools.

The EML team at High Tech High knows that when students are experiencing a plateau in their language development, it's a reflection that systems need to be designed to produce different outcomes. The goal is to ensure that their students are celebrated for their linguistic and cultural strengths, and achieve language proficiency as they continue in their journeys as multilingual learners.