MLE students at work

Multilingual Learner Education

Welcome!   ¡Bienvenido!   Bem-Vindo!   Byenvini!

Mission and Vision

The MLE department oversees the implementation of equitable and effective programming and services for multilingual learners and their families in Somerville from initial identification through reclassification. Our department’s core focus areas are to:

  • Provide effective, research-based curriculum, instruction, and assessment designed to build on students’ assets.
  • Develop and support educators and leaders via professional learning, collaborative structures, and career pathways.
  • Partner with families throughout their students’ educational experience.

 

Our Students

Data map of school languages

*The data in the map above is from March 2023. 
 

Programs for Multilingual Learners

flowchart for MLE programs at SPS

Our Programs

Sheltered English Immersion Program (SEI–1) for immigrant newcomer students at the beginning stages of learning English. The program is designed to meet students’ unique cultural and linguistic needs. This program is temporary and students transition as they progress in their English language development.

Sheltered English Immersion General Education Program (SEI–Gen Ed) is for students at transitional levels of English language proficiency. Students are fully integrated with fluent English speaking peers and receive ESL instruction in an inclusive model. 

Sheltered English Immersion Program Special Education (SEI–Special Ed) is for students in a substantially separate classroom with English fluent peers. This placement is determined by a student's Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education (SLIFE) is for students that have missed education or their education was interrupted. In grades 2 to 8 students are in SEI-1 classrooms. At the high school level, some students participate in the Goal Program in partnership with our adult education department. Students at the high school level typically earn an Adult High School diploma from the City of Somerville.

Bilingual Programs

Unidos K–8 Dual Language Program is housed at the East Somerville Community School. Read the flier.

Sonrisa Program is a bilingual prekindergarten classroom located at the East Somerville Community School for four-year-old students from families who speak Spanish. Please visit the Early Education Public Preschool Programs webpage to learn more.

 

Department Information

STAFF

Paulina Mitropoulos, MLE Director 
Dr. Gladys Valle, MLE Assistant Director
Stephanie Bielagus, MLE Department Chair, SHS
Antonella D'Eramo, MLE Curriculum and Instruction Specialist
Analiese Reigstad, Unidos Program Specialist
Erika Da Silva, MLE Placement and Assessment Coordinator
Marycruz Somes, GOAL Program Specialist
Erica Martinez, MLE Administrative Assistant/Bus Coordinator at Central Office

MLE Newsletters

Read our Newsletters. MLE monthly newsletters highlights features of our programs and the work of our students and teachers. 

Family Information

Please visit the Family Information page

Partnerships

Enroot

Enroot is a community-based organization serving multilingual learners in the Somerville Public Schools with out-of-school time opportunities for mentoring, leadership development, and internships with the goal of empowering students to fulfill their own American Dream.

Lesley Teaching Residency

Somerville Public Schools partners with Lesley University to host a year-long residency for aspiring early childhood and elementary teachers of multilingual learners. We welcome Lesley students as they learn to be become culturally and linguistically responsive educators. Learn more about the Lesley University ESL Teacher Preparation program.

ENROLLMENT INFORMATION

For enrollment information for any of our programs, please contact the Enrollment Office.