Annual Report 2024: Impact on Students

Traditional education systems often fail to accommodate the diverse linguistic backgrounds of multilingual learners. In California, 60% of children 0-5 years old speak a language other than English at home; SEAL has been instrumental in transforming how school systems support these learners. Our approach focuses on creating classrooms that celebrate and elevate students’ linguistic and cultural identities, ensuring that all students can thrive in rigorous and joyful learning environments.

By employing a holistic, research-based approach, SEAL supports students’ academic success while honoring their cultural and linguistic backgrounds. The integration of language development, literacy, and critical thinking across all subjects fosters an empowering environment where students feel encouraged to actively participate in their education.
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SEAL’s student-centered work focuses on four key areas:

• Oral Language Development: Encouraging academic discussions that build strong language skills and understanding of complex concepts.
• Biliteracy and Home Language Support: Helping students develop bilingualism and biliteracy while deepening their content knowledge and maintaining pride in their home languages.
• Engaged and Joyful Learning: Connecting lessons to students’ lived experiences through our inquiry-based, culturally responsive approach that inspires both curiosity and interaction.
• Language and Literacy within Content: Integrating language and literacy development into core subjects to ensure students gain meaningful, grade-level knowledge while building their language skills.

SEAL’s transformative impact is evident in student performance. According to a multiyear evaluation of the SEAL model, despite serving a higher proportion of socioeconomically disadvantaged students, SEAL schools see English Learners and Reclassified Fluent English Proficient students performing at or above grade level in English Language Arts and math by the fourth grade, highlighting the effectiveness of SEAL’s holistic, culturally responsive model. Moreover, educators, school leaders, and district leaders find that after participating in SEAL, students become more engaged and active learners, highlighting SEAL's instrumental role in fostering a genuine love of learning.

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