San Marcos Unified School District

In San Marcos Unified School District, the community's linguistic heritage isn't just acknowledged, it is celebrated.

Students who bring to school native languages other than English aren't referred to as "English learners," but rather as "emergent bilingual" students. This reflects part of the larger language journey students are on at school. During the school year, emergent bilinguals take part in the My Language Journey workshop in which they engage in assessment reflection, setting goals, and tracking their progress. Included is not just a conversation about acquiring English proficiency but also pathways to the California Seal of Biliteracy. This learning is also shared with families so that they, too, can be a part of the journey.

But the learning doesn't stop there; through their community school, they host English as a second language (ESL) classes for their community members. In these spaces, adult learners engage in a mix of instruction, art, and project-based learning to develop their linguistic capacity. Recently, one class presented "Mi Historia," a showcase of their stories as told through language (based on a storytelling interview they workshopped) and collages representing their life experiences.

The work in San Marcos ensures that learners youngest to eldest are able to express and celebrate their multilingual journeys.