About the Multilingual Education (MLE) Office

The MLE Department serves Multilingual Learners (MLs) in Lynn Public Schools by facilitating comprehensive multilingual language education and services. LPS offers a variety of learning environments to meet the needs of MLs across the district.

The primary English Learner program in Lynn Public Schools is SEI (Sheltered English Immersion). In this program, nearly all instruction is in English, using appropriate supports and scaffolds to provide all students equal access to grade-level academic standards.

Elementary Schools — Kindergarten through Grade 5

SEI (Sheltered English Immersion) Program

This learning environment provides sheltered content instruction and English Language Development (ELD) support.

• Receive sheltered content instruction with appropriate English-language scaffolds from an SEI-endorsed classroom teacher to develop skills in grade-level academic content aligned with state standards.
• Be in a classroom with both Multilingual Learners and non-Multilingual learners.
• Receive English Language Development (ELD) instruction from a certified ESL specialist.

Compañeros 90:10 Spanish Dual Language Program

Available at EJ Harrington (Pre-K–5) and Connery (Pre-K–3).

This learning environment provides content instruction in two languages (Spanish and English), as well as ELD. In kindergarten, students spend approximately 90% of the day in Spanish and 10% in English. The share of English increases by ~10% each year; by grades 3–5, students spend about 50% of the day in each language.

In dual language classrooms, students will:

• Receive sheltered content in Spanish and English, with appropriate scaffolds, from an SEI-endorsed and bilingual-education-endorsed classroom teacher.
• Receive ELD instruction from a certified ESL specialist.
• Learn alongside both Multilingual Learners and non-Multilingual learners.

For more information about enrolling your child in a dual language program, email Emily Benitez or call (781) 477-7220 x3143.

Secondary Schools — Grades 6 through 12 (SEI)

SEI (Sheltered English Immersion) Program

This learning environment provides sheltered content instruction and ESL support.

• Be in a classroom with both Multilingual Learners and non-Multilingual learners.
• Receive sheltered content instruction with appropriate English-language scaffolds from an SEI-endorsed classroom teacher to develop skills in grade-level academic content aligned with state standards.
• Multilingual Learners with Level 1–2 English proficiency during their first two years in U.S. schools—including students with limited formal schooling—may be scheduled in targeted grade-level classrooms with other early-proficient MLs to provide intensive support for English language development and grade-level academic content.
• Receive ESL instruction from a certified language specialist.

Placement Criteria

Lynn Public Schools identifies MLs so they can receive instruction designed to assist them in learning English and subject-matter content. Parents and guardians participate in the decision-making process regarding the type of program the identified ML will receive.

LPS uses the following process to determine whether a newly enrolled student is an ML:

• Home Language Survey for all newly enrolling students
• English language proficiency assessment
• Parental notification and input

Exit Criteria

Identified ML students take the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s approved ACCESS for MLs 2.0 language proficiency test annually. The purpose of the exam is to monitor student progress in English language proficiency across the four domains of language (listening, speaking, reading, and writing). Once students exit the program, they are designated as Former English Learners (FEL) and are monitored for an additional four years.