Waterford schools looking to add bilingual programs
Waterford — With its multilingual learners tripling over the past eight years, the school district will add a bilingual program at Oswegatchie Elementary School next school year, and likely another at Quaker Hill Elementary School the year after that.
Multilingual learners are students who are becoming proficient in more than one language at a time, which most often refers to students who are learning English as a second language.
Under state law, districts that have schools that house more than 20 multilingual learners who speak the same native language must provide that school with a bilingual program. Students receive both native language instruction and English language development time during the school day.
Great Neck Elementary, which was the first school in town to be designated a bilingual school, began its program this school year.
'It continues to climb,' Great Neck Principal Billie Shea said. 'We're really working to ensure that every multilingual learner in Waterford has the resources, the strategies and the personalized plans and support to really thrive in our district.'
Jill Bessette, an educational consultant with LEARN, the regional education service center, told the school board last week that the goal is recognize bilingualism and biliteracy starting with the youngest children.
More multilingual learners in the region
In the 2016-17 school year, 51 multilingual learners were enrolled here, but it has risen to 137 students, Shea said. About 70% of those are currently in elementary school.
That increase is similar to what's been seen in city school districts nearby.
Norwich Public Schools from 2021 to early 2024 had seen its multilingual population increase from 638 to 839. Norwich Free Academy recorded 181 multilingual learners in 2021, and that rose to 297 by January 2024.
New London Public Schools for the 2020-21 school year had 790 multilingual learners, and that rose to 977 by February 2024.
'This trend is certainly not unique to Waterford,' Waterford Superintendent of Schools Thomas Giard said Monday.
As for the exact reason for the increase, Giard couldn't say.
'I don't have a root cause or analysis as to why,' Giard said. 'But I think our challenge, or opportunity, is how we best meet the needs of these students.'
Great Neck leads the way
Great Neck was the first school to implement the bilingual program, which it did this year.
The 20 multilingual learners at the school are native Spanish speakers who are learning English.
As mandated, they are being taught by certified Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, known as TESOL teachers, who specialize helping students slowly gain proficiency in English while still maintaining their home language. The three TESOL teachers and a tutor are shared among the schools.
In addition, the school has instituted specific services to assist teachers, students and families communication, like LanguageLine, an on-demand, phone interpretation service.
'So you can literally pick up a phone, and over 240 languages are supported,' said LEARN Multilanguage Learner Coordinator Lisanne Kaplan. 'And you can get a live interpreter on the phone that can help assist a parent at the office, that can also be used for a PPT, parent conferences…'
Kaplan said another software the school has implemented is TalkingPoints, an app that helps teachers of multilingual learners send messages to their families. The teacher can send the message in English, but the families will see it in their native language. When they respond, their message gets translated back to English.
Students are tested yearly on their English proficiency and if they meet a certain standard they leave the program, Giard said.
The 20 multilingual learners state rule is based on schools' Oct. 1 enrollment numbers, Giard said. This past Oct. 1, Oswegatchie had more than 20 learners whose native language is Spanish, and Quaker Hill is currently at 20, so if it maintains those numbers, it will need a program to add a program by fall 2026.
Giard said he is certain his upcoming 2025-26 budget proposal will feature additional staffing for multilingual learners.
d.drainville@theday.com
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