About 18.6% of all MCPS students are emergent multilingual learners, representing one of the fastest growing populations in the district with a 2.3% increase from the 2021-2022 academic year, according to MCPS.
A proposed Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) policy change aims to increase multilingualism by teaching students English while developing their native language skills, according to April 11 board documents.
The proposed revisions would rename the policy from “Education of English Learners” to “Emergent Multilingual Learners” and will shift away from prioritizing English proficiency over native languages, according to the documents.
Yared Velazquez, MCPS Department of English Learners and Multilingual Education supervisor, said at a school board meeting April 11 that the revisions are a step in the right direction to increasing linguistic diversity.
“It’s essential to appreciate the multilingualism of our emerging multilingual learners, along with recognizing the linguistic and cultural assets that they contribute to both the classroom and broader school community,” Velazquez said.
MCPS students speak more than 160 languages, according to the district’s website. About 43% of Montgomery County residents speak a language other than English at home and 17% of residents speak Spanish, according to U.S. census data.
The revised policy aligns with guidance from the U.S. Department of English, the Maryland State Department of Education and an evaluation from the nonprofit Center for Applied Linguistics, according to the documents.
Drafted policy revisions are available for public comment until May 6.
