MULTILINGUAL EDUCATION SERVICES
Welcome to Multilingual Education Services
Marion County Public Schools (MCPS) serves a diverse population of multilingual learners (ML) who speak 78 different languages and dialects. Many of our students arrive with the ability to speak, read, and/or write in one or more languages. While they have traditionally been referred to as English Language Learners (ELLs), we now use the term multilingual learners to recognize and honor the rich linguistic skills and cultural backgrounds they bring to our schools.
We focus on:
- MLs academic achievement
- English Language Acquisition through Professional Learning for Educators and Collaboration
- Family Engagement and Community Partnerships
- State Compliance
- Technology Integration
- Fairness and Belonging
Mission Statement
The Marion County Public Schools Multilingual Learners Program is dedicated to supporting students in developing strong English language skills while building on their existing academic knowledge and language strengths. We work in partnership with families, educators, and staff to ensure that every multilingual learner has access to high-quality instruction and opportunities to succeed in school and beyond.
Vision Statement
We envision a district where all multilingual learners are recognized for their abilities and given the tools they need to achieve success in language development and academic learning. Our goal is to create learning environments where students can grow in confidence, meet high expectations, and prepare for future opportunities in a connected world.
Program Goals
The goals of the MCPS Multilingual Learners Program are to develop students’ English language proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing while supporting them in acquiring essential academic skills and content knowledge as they continue to learn English. The program fosters effective communication between home and school to ensure the educational success of multilingual learners, recognizing the important role families play in students’ learning and growth. In addition, the program prepares and empowers educators, teachers, and paraprofessionals with the knowledge, strategies, and resources they need to effectively support multilingual learners.
Our Multilingual Education Services Team
- Conducts thorough staffing to meet the needs of our MLs.
- Designs and implements professional learning programs tailored for all educators.
- Performs meticulous data entry and analysis to track progress and outcomes.
- Provides multimodal training opportunities to accommodate diverse educator needs and schedules.
- Offers curricular and collaborative support to enhance instructional practices.
- Ensures strict adherence to state compliance standards.
- Maintains a comprehensive, research-based library of resources, websites, and more to support ongoing professional growth.