The Newark Board of Education has experienced a remarkable increase in its Multilingual Learner population, with a record number of students now enrolled in English as a Second Language (ESL) and Bilingual Programs district-wide. From 2020 to 2023, the District has witnessed a staggering 78% surge in the Multilingual Learner population. Furthermore, during this same period, there has been a noteworthy 48% increase in students who have successfully passed the Access Test and transitioned out of Bilingual services.
This growth underscores the District's commitment to diversity and highlights the importance of providing targeted support to students who speak multiple languages. To ensure that teachers are equipped to meet the needs of this expanding population, the first-ever ESL NBOE Conference was held on August 30, 2023, providing over 250 ESL teachers with a comprehensive agenda that covered critical topics such as Teaching Language Objectives, Co-Teaching Multilingual Learners, Scaffolding & Differentiated Instruction, and Accelerating Language Learning Through Cooperative Learning.
The Newark Board of Education's efforts to foster an inclusive and thriving educational community serve as a model for school districts across the nation. By prioritizing the needs of its Multilingual Learner population, the District is setting a standard for excellence in education and ensuring that all students have access to the resources and support they need to succeed.