Article #5 in a Series >>>>> Departments and Offices of the Minneapolis Public Schools >>>>> Multilingual Department

As I complete the advanced final draft of my new book, Understanding the Minneapolis Public Schools:  Current Condition, Future Prospect, I am conducting a final review for updating mission statements and staff composition.  I have in the last days and weeks listed and made comments on many offices and departments, with an emphasis on staff members and effectiveness.  In the current series of articles I will be emphasizing departmental function and mission statements, but I will give staff listing updates as I deem useful to my readers and will give staff composition in cases for which I have not previously done so.

 

Here I give information for the MPS Multilingual Department, drawn from the pertinent portal on the MPS website:

 

Our Work

 

The Multilingual Department exists to ensure that all students in Minneapolis Public Schools have opportunities to develop language competency through multiple strands of programming.

 

Our programs are designed for students in Minneapolis Public Schools to gain cross-cultural competency and achieve full bilingualism and biliteracy to succeed in a globally interdependent world. The cultural and linguistic diversity of the students we serve is our greatest strength. We strive to create quality learning environments that respect, reflect, and accommodate this diversity.

 

English Learner programs promote academic achievement of students who qualify for English Learner services through research-based instructional strategies, language-rich learning environments, and affirmation of student, family, and community assets. 

 

Dual Language programs are designed to support students receiving English Learner services in emerging fully bilingual and biliterate in both English and their home language.

 

Immersion programs are available in Spanish, for native English and native Spanish speaking students to learn both languages together to emerge fully bilingual and biliterate, and in French, for students with no previous experience with French to emerge fully bilingual and biliterate in both English and French.

 

World Language programs are available K-12 in multiple languages to provide opportunities for all students to be global multilingual leaders through the development of multicultural competency and proficiency in a language other than English.

 

Our Vision

Every English Learner bilingual and biliterate, college and career ready

 

Our Core Values

Our work is guided by the following values;

• Bilingualism is an asset
• All teachers are teachers of English Learners
• All MPS staff are responsible for the success of English Learners
• Every parent is a partner