Multilingual Academic Services (MAS) | |  | | |
A Winter of Growth:
Celebrating Innovation and
Multilingual Learning
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As we welcome the winter season, we are inspired by the incredible dedication of educators across Orange County who support multilingual learners every day. Your commitment to creating language-rich, inclusive classrooms ensures that every student has the opportunity to grow, succeed, and flourish in all aspects of their instruction. We are grateful for the creativity, passion, and care you bring to your work—it truly makes a difference in the lives of the students and families you serve.
This edition of our newsletter highlights exciting initiatives shaping multilingual education. From exploring how Artificial Intelligence can enhance instruction and amplify student voice, to California’s new mathematics training materials designed to support English Learners, educators are at the forefront of innovation. We also celebrate OCDE’s partnerships with district leaders and language experts, strengthening systems of support for English Learners and Long-Term English Learners (LTELs) across the county.
We encourage you to explore the MAS Resource Hub for tools and guidance, check out our AI Corner for insights on technology in bilingual education, and stay connected with events such as the LTEL Leadership Network. We hope these stories and resources inspire new ideas, encourage collaboration, and reaffirm the remarkable impact of your work in building equitable, engaging, and forward-thinking educational environments for all multilingual learners.
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Inside this Issue
- Multilingual Learner Policy Spotlight
- MAS Resource Hub
- AI Corner
- Did You Know?
- Upcoming Events
| | Multilingual Learner Policy Spotlight | | |
OPTEL
The Observation Protocol for Teachers of English Learners (OPTEL) has been a central focus of discussion and development by the California Department of Education (CDE) as part of the state’s ongoing commitment to improving outcomes for multilingual learners. The OPTEL was developed to replace the second and third criteria for reclassification, providing a more consistent, research-informed, and equity-focused approach to evaluating English Learners’ language proficiency and academic progress. This comprehensive framework is designed to guide educators in reflective practice and continuous instructional improvement. It emphasizes four interrelated domains—academic language, scaffolding, interaction, and feedback—that are essential for advancing English Learners’ academic achievement and language development. Through structured observation, reflection, and coaching cycles, OPTEL enables teachers to systematically assess instructional effectiveness, identify strengths and areas for growth, and apply evidence-based strategies that ensure equitable access to rigorous content and promote meaningful student participation. Furthermore, OPTEL cultivates a collaborative professional culture among teachers, coaches, and administrators, fostering dialogue around instructional quality, linguistic equity, and student success. By promoting coherence and shared accountability across educational systems, OPTEL supports California’s broader vision for continuous improvement and educational excellence.
To learn more about OPTEL implementation, please visit the California Department of Education OPTEL website.
California English Learner Roadmap
The California English Learner (EL) Roadmap is a visionary and comprehensive policy framework established by the California Department of Education to ensure that all English Learners (ELs) have equitable access to high-quality education and opportunities to thrive academically, linguistically, and socially. Its purpose is to guide educators, administrators, and policymakers in creating learning environments that affirm students’ cultural and linguistic assets while preparing them for college, career, and civic participation. At its core, the EL Roadmap is grounded in the belief that multilingualism and multiculturalism are assets, not barriers, to learning. It outlines four interrelated principles that provide a coherent foundation for educational practices and systems serving English Learners:
- Assets-Oriented and Needs-Responsive Schools: Schools recognize and build upon the cultural and linguistic strengths that English Learners bring, fostering environments that value diversity and promote belonging.
- Intellectual Quality of Instruction and Meaningful Access: English Learners are provided with rigorous, engaging, and intellectually rich instruction that supports both language development and mastery of grade-level academic content.
- System Conditions that Support Effectiveness: Effective implementation requires strong leadership, professional learning, and collaboration across all levels of the educational system to ensure that teachers and administrators are equipped to meet the needs of English Learners.
- Alignment and Articulation within and across Systems: The Roadmap promotes consistency and coherence from early childhood through higher education, ensuring that English Learners experience seamless support and continued progress throughout their educational journey.
The importance of the EL Roadmap lies in its capacity to unify California’s diverse education systems around a shared vision of equity, excellence, and inclusivity. It moves beyond compliance-based approaches, emphasizing educational quality, student voice, and systemic coherence. Ultimately, the EL Roadmap guides schools toward creating conditions where English Learners can fully realize their potential as bilingual, biliterate, and multicultural individuals who contribute meaningfully to their communities and to a globally connected society.
To learn more about the EL Roadmap, please visit the California Department of Education EL Roadmap website or register for upcoming trainings HERE.
The English Language Development Compendium
The English Language Development (ELD) Compendium, released by the California Department of Education (CDE) in November 2025, is a new and comprehensive resource created to support educators in advancing the success of English Learners across the state. Designed as a living document, the compendium provides an integrated overview of the standards, initiatives, legislation, and instructional guidance that form California’s framework for multilingual education. It organizes information into three key areas—Outcomes, Guidance, and Support—highlighting connections among the ELD Standards, content standards, curriculum frameworks, instructional strategies, and the divisions within CDE that provide professional and technical assistance. The resource aims to strengthen coherence across systems and empower educators with accessible tools, clear policies, and evidence-based practices that promote equitable and high-quality instruction for English Learners. Educators are also encouraged to contribute to the compendium’s ongoing development by submitting feedback and new resource suggestions to CFIRD@cde.ca.gov.
For full access to all the resources distributed by the California Department of Education, please click the link below:
Bilingual Coordinators Network Folder
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Beginning in October 2025, the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) launched a groundbreaking professional development initiative exploring the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and language acquisition for English Learners. In partnership with leading experts in educational technology and multilingual pedagogy, this initiative brings together educators from across the county to examine how AI can enhance instructional design, accelerate language development, and promote equitable access to rigorous, language-rich learning environments.
This professional learning series empowers educators to thoughtfully integrate AI tools that support listening, speaking, reading, and writing development for English Learners. Through hands-on workshops, educators engage in inquiry and reflection on how AI-powered platforms can personalize instruction, provide real-time feedback, and amplify student voice while maintaining a strong focus on human connection and culturally responsive teaching.
This ongoing collaboration fosters a sense of community among educators, instructional coaches, and administrators who are designing innovative approaches to leverage AI ethically and effectively to meet the diverse linguistic needs of multilingual learners. These efforts reflect OCDE’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that every multilingual learner benefits from the opportunities that technology can offer.
There will be an additional session on February 6, 2026. If you would like to attend, you can register at http://ocde.k12oms.org/1253-268823. Please contact Dr. Sandra Preciado at spreciado@ocde.us with any questions.
OCDE AI Framework
AI As A Tool for Inclusive Bilingual Education, Language Magazine (2025)
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Math and English Learners:
California is in the process of adopting new mathematics instructional materials aligned with the 2023 Mathematics Framework for California Public Schools. This statewide effort aims to ensure that the next generation of math textbooks and digital resources support conceptual understanding, problem-solving, and real-world application across grade levels. The adoption process, led by the California State Board of Education, emphasizes equity and access—ensuring that all students, including English Learners (ELs), can engage meaningfully with rigorous math content.
For English Learner students, this adoption carries significant implications. ELs are learning academic content while simultaneously developing English proficiency, which means materials must support both mathematical reasoning and language development. High-quality resources should integrate strategies such as explicit vocabulary instruction, visual supports, collaborative discourse, and culturally relevant contexts. When instructional materials center multilingual learners from the start—through inclusive adoption committees, pilot testing, and evaluation criteria—they help bridge language and content learning, rather than treat language development as a barrier.
If materials lack sufficient language support, EL students risk limited access to grade-level mathematics and reduced opportunities to participate in mathematical discussions. By contrast, when materials view students’ linguistic and cultural assets as strengths, they foster deeper engagement and achievement. This adoption cycle provides California educators an important opportunity to choose resources that promote equitable math learning for all students, particularly those developing English proficiency.
| | Orange County Department of Education Collaboration with Dr. Laurie Olsen | | |
Beginning in October 2025, the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) launched a partnership with Dr. Laurie Olsen as part of a 5-district Long-Term English Learner (LTEL) cohort to strengthen systems of support for English Learners and LTELs. Led by the Continuous Improvement Office in collaboration with Multilingual Academic Services (MAS), this partnership engages districts in deep reflection and strategic planning to enhance instructional practices, refine placement and reclassification policies, and ensure equitable access to rigorous, language-rich learning environments. Guided by Dr. Olsen’s expertise, this initiative serves as a cornerstone of each district’s continuous improvement efforts to advance multilingual achievement and success for all English Learners.
In addition, an Expert District Group has been established to further strengthen Orange County districts’ already robust systems of support for English Learners and to share exemplary practices across the county. In collaboration with the MAS Office, this ongoing effort—anchored in OCDE’s Continuous Improvement framework—focuses on building coherence, promoting collaboration, and deepening the collective capacity of districts to sustain and expand equitable, high-quality programs that meet the diverse needs of multilingual learners.
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Together, these partnerships reflect OCDE’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that every multilingual learner thrives academically, linguistically, and socially—empowered to achieve success in school and beyond.
For more information or support on EL services, please contact Dr. Sandra Preciado at spreciado@ocde.us or Multilingual Academic Services at MAS@ocde.us.
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State and Federal Programs & Multilingual Academic Services Network Meetings 2025-2026: Save the Dates!
Save the dates for the 2025–2026 State and Federal Programs and Multilingual Academic Services Network meetings. These gatherings bring leaders together to share best practices, strengthen expertise, and collaborate on grants, legislation, English Learner programs, and multiliteracy opportunities.
Download Flyer
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Championing Newcomer Success - A Community of Practice
Join us for Championing Newcomer Success—a free Community of Practice dedicated to uplifting newcomer students. Together, educators, staff, and families will share strategies, foster language and cultural inclusion, and support the well-being and success of every newcomer student.
Download Flyer
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Dual Language Education Leadership Network - Championing Multilingual Excellence
We’re launching the refreshed Dual Language Education Leadership Network—a space for DLI leaders to connect, share, and grow. Join us at schools across the county to celebrate diverse programs, tackle current issues, and strengthen our multilingual journey together.
Download Flyer
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Speaking the Future: AI-Powered Strategies for English Learner Success
Boost EL success through innovation at Speaking the Future, a hands-on professional development session on AI-powered strategies to accelerate English Learners’ language growth. Explore innovative tools, culturally responsive practices, and collaborative planning to personalize instruction and enhance EL outcomes.
Download Flyer
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Roots to Readiness: English Learner Toolkit for Early Learning TK-2nd
This series delves into developmentally
appropriate, culturally responsive, and
linguistically supportive early educational approaches. It emphasizes using the California Master Plan for Early Learning and Care and the California English Learner Roadmap. You’ll receive guidance on how to use the early education toolkit to meet the needs of multilingual learners in TK-2nd at your local site.
Download Flyer
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Voices that Lead: ELAC & DELAC Leadership Series
Join Voices that Lead: ELAC & DELAC Leadership Series, a training designed for site and district leaders alongside their parent committees. Together, you’ll build collaboration, strengthen advocacy, and learn strategies to elevate parent voice in English Learner communities.
Download Flyer
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Sign Up for Constant Contact
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Educational Services
Curriculum, Instruction & Academic Enrichment Unit
Multilingual Academic Services
Email: MAS@ocde.us
Phone: 714-966-4156
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