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Summary Research Brief
From 2015 to 2019, Loyola Marymount University’s Center for Equity for English Learners (CEEL), in partnership with the Wexford Institute, conducted a rigorous multi year evaluation of the Sobrato Early Academic Language (SEAL) model. This replication study followed an earlier evaluation of SEAL in two Bay Area school districts. That initial research (Lindholm-Leary, 2015) found that despite starting school behind their peers, SEAL students caught up with or surpassed peers on various measures ranging from language and literacy to math and science. Based on that success, SEAL has rapidly expanded to additional schools and districts. With funding from the Sobrato Philanthropies, CEEL and the Wexford Institute studied SEAL’s implementation and outcomes in 67 schools from 12 California districts. This research brief summarizes the replication evaluation’s findings. The evaluators found that SEAL improved teaching practices and that SEAL ELs demonstrated stronger engagement as well as positive language development and academic outcomes. This evidence demonstrates that SEAL can be replicated at scale (CEEL & Wexford Institute, 2020). The brief concludes with implications for continued implementation and replication of SEAL and other practices to support English Learners.
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Our Resources
Looking for more ways to engage your students and create a joyful learning environment? We’ve curated the best resources—from SEAL-approved tools for Dual Language and Multilingual Learners to videos that bring you directly into our classrooms —to give your students the opportunity to learn, thrive, and lead.
Creating Elementary Classrooms Where Multilingual Learners With Disabilities Thrive
SEAL’s practical, research-informed guide offers educators and school leaders strategies to strengthen instruction and support for multilingual learners with disabilities.
Dual Language Learners in Transitional Kindergarten
California’s Universal Transitional Kindergarten (UTK) multi-year expansion is a historic investment to expand access to early learning programs for every 4-year-old in the state. Alongside other early learning and care programs in the mixed-delivery Universal PreKindergarten (UPK) system, TK aims to provide young learners with the foundational experiences they need to thrive as they enter kindergarten and beyond. The following article showcases the impactful work taking place across California school districts—from university partnerships that support bilingual TK educators to the growth of dual language immersion (DLI) programs, and the creation of inclusive, welcoming environments for all children.
SEAL Overview Impact Report
SEAL’s Overview Impact Report showcases our mission, reach, and lasting influence on multilingual learners. Explore our story, see our statewide impact, learn how our pedagogy centers English Learners, and discover key lessons from our work with schools and communities.
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Key Lessons from Over a Decade of Impact
When schools center language, culture, and community, English Learners don’t just succeed—they thrive. We’ve identified eight key lessons about what it truly takes to create schools where multilingual learners flourish. Download to read more about these key lessons.