A woman teaching a class of children in a classroom.

About SEAL

For more than 15 years, SEAL has worked with school districts, county offices of education, schools, preschool LEAs, teachers, families, California Department of Education, and many other education champions to advance educational outcomes of English Learners and Dual Language Learners. It all began with Dr. Laurie Olsen and Sobrato Philanthropies whose strong belief that all children should have access to opportunities for growth and success led to designing, piloting and eventually creating the SEAL you know today.

SEAL Through the Years

See our journey—from pilot program to valued partner in language and literacy development.

1998

Proposition 227, “English for the Children”

Proposition 227, emphasizing an English-only approach in K-12 education, brought about a radical change in how English Learners (ELs) were educated, effectively dismantling bilingual education programs. This move ushered in a prolonged era of English-only instruction in California schools, spanning two decades. Eighteen years later in 2016, California voters approved Proposition 58 which overturned many of the restrictions on bilingual education established by Proposition 227.

2001

No Child Left Behind

The enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act by federal legislation heightened the call for increased accountability and measurable standards in education. The “one size fits all” pacing for language arts was based on the needs of native English speakers. The insufficient capacity to implement effective strategies resulted in interventions and responses that often missed the mark. On December 10, 2015, President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), reauthorizing the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and replacing the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), the 2001 reauthorization of ESEA.

2008

SEAL Pilot Begins

As a program of The Sobrato Family Foundation, Dr. Laurie Olsen designs and initiates English Learner pilot program in three elementary schools and feeder preschools modeling language-rich education from Prek to 3rd grade with a core focus on bilingualism.

2010

Defining Long Term English Learners

Californians Together, in partnership with Dr. Laurie Olsen, releases the report "Reparable Harm: Delivering on the Promise of Educational Opportunity for Long Term English Learners," drawing attention to the critical issues faced by this group. Subsequently, over the following years, this report prompts action at both local and state levels. California becomes the first state to pass legislation defining Long Term English Learners (LTELs), leading to a statewide effort by districts to assess data, identify affected students, and implement targeted programs to support them.

2010

Common Core Adopted

California adopts Common Core Standards, marking the beginning of a new era characterized by a heightened emphasis on language development integrated throughout the curriculum.

2012

Seal of Biliteracy

The state legislature adopts the Seal of Biliteracy, recognizing graduating seniors who demonstrate proficiency in two or more languages with this prestigious distinction.

2013

State Adopts Definition for LTELs

Legislation establishes a formal state definition for Long-Term English Learners (LTELs) and students at risk of becoming LTELs. Additionally, the law mandates the California Department of Education to collect comprehensive data from every school and school district statewide.

2013

SEAL Replication Begins

SEAL’s initial pilot program returns promising evaluation results, spurring replication in 15 additional elementary schools.

2014

ELA/ELD Framework Adopted

California releases a combined English Language Arts/English Language Development Framework, providing crucial guidance for implementing the new Common Core standards. This framework emphasizes a nuanced, research-aligned approach to language and literacy education, acknowledging the importance of a child's home language in the learning process.

2015

SEAL’s First Pilot Evaluation Published

Dr. Lindholm-Leary's evaluation of the SEAL pilot program is published, showing encouraging outcomes, especially for students who participated in SEAL classrooms since preschool and those in bilingual settings. SEAL initiates a second third-party evaluation to comprehensively assess its effectiveness. Loyola Marymount University's Center for Equity for English Learners (CEEL) and the Wexford Institute are chosen as evaluation partners.

2016

SEAL Grows as does Support for Multilingual Programs

Loyola Marymount University receives a $2.7M federal grant to study SEAL implementation in the Los Angeles Unified School District during the 2016-17 school year. Proposition 58, approved by California voters, overturns many of the restrictions on bilingual education established 18 years prior by Proposition 227. This marks the beginning of a new era of encouragement and support for bilingual, dual language, and multilingual programs in the state.

2017

NASEM Recognizes SEAL and English Learner Roadmap is Adopted

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Mathematics (NASEM) meta-analysis of EL research, “Promoting the Educational Success of Children and Youth Learning English: Promising Futures” includes SEAL as a promising practice. The English Learner Roadmap policy was passed by the California State Board of Education embracing comprehensive asset-based direction for California schools.

2018

SEAL Awarded DLL Professional Development Grant

SEAL is one of five professional learning providers to be awarded The California Department of Education’s Early Learning and Care Division’s Dual Language Learner Professional Development Grant to address the growing need and desire for training and professional development of early childhood education teachers.

2018

CA Global 2030

State Superintendent Tom Torlakson's initiative, Global 2030, aims to better prepare California students for the 21st century economy, broaden their perspective and understanding of the world, and strengthen the diversity of backgrounds and languages that make California’s culture and economy vibrant and dynamic.

2019

SEAL Officially Becomes an Independent Nonprofit

SEAL achieves independent nonprofit status, training 1,600 teachers and reaching 50,000 students across California in the process.

2020

SEAL partners on ELRISE! and CA releases The Master Plan for Early Learning and Care

SEAL with Californians Together and Loyola Marymount’s CEEL is awarded a $5M Educator Workforce Investment Grant for the ELRISE! project. The grant focuses on strengthening the state’s capacity to implement the EL Roadmap across 20 county offices of education. Gov. Newsom releases the Master Plan for Early Learning and Care, setting the trajectory for California’s investments in early childhood education, as Dual Language Learners are prioritized throughout the plan.

2021

SEAL Replication Evaluation Reveals Success

SEAL releases the findings of its independent evaluation, demonstrating positive outcomes for English Learners, Dual Language Learners, and Multilingual Learners, along with significant increases in the use of research-based practices among SEAL teachers.

2022

SEAL Case Studies Released

“The SEAL Model and Its Implementation Across Three Exemplar Districts” is a series of in-depth school district case studies, authored by Social Policy Research Associates, illustrates how education systems change when an assets-based and research-based approach to learning for ELs/DLLs is applied. The case studies offer an inside look at how SEAL was implemented in three California school districts: Mountain View School District, Oak Grove School District, and Redwood City School District.

2023

EPiCC & SEAL

The $10 million Educator Workforce Investment Grant: Effective Language Acquisition Programs (EWIG: ELAP) is established to enhance English Language Development (ELD) instruction statewide. This grant focuses on providing professional development and coaching for educators to better support English Learners and Multilingual students, ultimately aiming to improve student outcomes. The training initiative, known as "EPiCC" (English Learner Roadmap Power in collaboration Across California), builds upon the foundation laid by a previous project titled "EL RISE!" SEAL continues its partnerships with County Offices of Educations throughout the state.

2023

SEAL Releases More Publications

SEAL releases “From Frameworks to Classrooms: Promising Practices for California English Learners/Emergent Bilinguals in STEM” authored by SEAL Program Manager Dr. Joanna Meadvin,“A P-3 Framework: Centering English Learners” with Dr. Laurie Olsen and “Centering Multilingual Families in California Community Schools” with Community Schools Learning Exchange.

School District Partners

As more schools and classrooms discover the SEAL impact, we are able to reach more communities throughout California every school year.

Brea Olinda Unified School District
Azusa Unified School District
Azusa Unified School District
Davis Joint Unified School District
Cutler Orosi Unified School District
Earlimart Preschools
Gilroy Unified School District Preschool
Lindsay Unified School District
Long Beach Unified School District – Educare
Los Angeles Unified School District – Preschools
Mexican Alliance Opportunity Foundation
Milpitas Unified School District – CDC
Porterville Unified School District
Rialto Unified School District STATE Preschool
San Bernardino Unified School District
Santa Clara County Office of Education
Redwood City School District – Preschools
San Lorenzo Unified School District – Kidango
San Rafael City Schools – Preschools
Santa Clara Unified School District – Preschools
Berryessa Union School District
Coalinga-Huron Unified School District
Davis Joint Unified School District
Earlimart Schools District
Evergreen Elementary School District
Woodlake Unified School District
Fillmore Unified School District
Franklin McKinley School District
Gilroy Unified School District
Golden Plains Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District
Milpitas Unified School District
Mountain View School District
Newark Unified School District
Oak Grove School District
San Bruno Park School District
Redwood City School District
San Lorenzo Unified School District
San Rafael City Schools
Santa Clara Unified School District
Twin Rivers Unified School District
Williams Unified School District
SEAL Preschool LEAs
SEAL School Districts
2024 SEAL School Partners
San Rafael City Schools – Preschools
San Lorenzo Unified School District – Kidango
Gilroy Unified School District Preschool
Davis Joint Unified School District
Washington Unified School District
Yolo County Office of Education
West Contra Costa Unified School District
Winters Joint Unified School District
Williams Unified School District
San Rafael City Schools – Preschools
Gilroy Unified School District
Davis Joint Unified School District
Mountain View School District
Oak Grove School District
Milpitas Unified School District – CDC
Redwood City School District
San Lorenzo Unified School District
San Rafael City Schools
Newark Unified School District
Milpitas Unified School District
Berryessa Union School District
Twin Rivers Unified School District
Santa Clara County Office of Education
Redwood City School District – Preschools
Evergreen Elementary School District
Williams Unified School District
San Bruno Park School District
Franklin McKinley School District
Santa Clara Unified School District
SEAL Preschool LEAs
SEAL School Districts
2024 SEAL School Districts
Cutler Orosi Unified School District
Woodlake Unified School District
Earlimart Preschools
Lindsay Unified School District
Firebaugh-Las Deltas Unified School District
Exeter Unified School District
Tulare County Office of Education
Visalia Unified School District
Porterville Unified School District
Coalinga-Huron Unified School District
Gilroy Unified School District
Earlimart Schools District
SEAL Preschool LEAs
SEAL School Districts
2024 SEAL School Districts
Los Angeles Unified School District
Azusa Unified School District
Brea Olinda Unified School District
San Bernardino Unified School District
Mexican Alliance Opportunity Foundation
Rialto Unified School District STATE Preschool
Los Angeles Unified School District – Preschools
Rio School District
Little Lake City School District
Hueneme Elementary School District
Fillmore Unified School District
ABC Unified School District
SEAL Preschool LEAs
SEAL School Districts
2024 SEAL School Districts

Join the SEAL Team! 

Interested in becoming part of the SEAL mission? Join us as we continue to grow and expand to more schools, students and communities —in California and beyond. Apply now!

A woman standing next to a boy in a classroom.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at SEAL

SEAL’s mission inherently promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization in which we give voice to, and meet the needs of, the communities, teachers, and students we serve.

We believe in lifelong learning and continuous improvement, and we are ever-evolving the processes through which we select and support team members and foster a culture of universal belonging and empowerment. SEAL is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment.

SEAL encourages applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds and lived experiences, especially those from immigrant and multilingual communities, people of color, and members of other historically marginalized groups.

Financials

SEAL is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and prepares its financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP). We want you to know how your investment is used, so you have confidence that your generous gifts make a meaningful impact on the classrooms, schools, and districts that we help transform through our effective model.

FY 2022-2023
FY 2021-2022
FY 2020-2021

To assure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public, and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the not-for-profit organizations and causes they are asked to support, we declare these donors’ bill of rights.