California has set forth a vision of multilingualism as a goal for our students, and has put into place comprehensive research-based frameworks and policies for the education of our culturally and linguistically diverse state. Today, as new literacy initiatives are taking shape, it is essential that they be aligned with and build upon the frame of California’s strong English learner policies that reflect the research on effective practices for English learner/Emergent Bilingual* students and that honor the vision California has set for our students.
In this brief by the California Committee for Effective Literacy titled “Effective Literacy Education for English Learner/Emergent Bilingual Students in California” details four decades of research with a distinct focus on second language literacy development and instruction listing components of effective literacy education for English learners derived from this research base, and specifices their alignment along the four state policy and guidance documents
The characteristics and components of effective literacy instruction for English Learners referred to in this brief are discussed in more depth in a companion white paper published by the National Committee on Effective Literacy: Escamilla, K., Olsen, L., & Slavik, J. (2022) “Toward Comprehensive Effective Literacy Policy and Instruction for English Learner/Emergent Students“. www.MultiLingualLiteracy.org