Malden Public Schools launches English Learners Parent Advisory Council

EL Director outlines details of MPS program, pledges multilevel support of all students, families

  A telling modicum of success already in place for the Malden Public Schools (MPS) came about midway through Tuesday night’s inaugural meeting of the new English Learners Parent Action Council (ELPAC). This was when Salemwood K-8 student Grace Burgos Patino came onto the virtual meeting and asked some pertinent questions regarding possible English learning classes her mother could take in the near future. These cogent inquiries were made – and answered by MPS first-year English Learners Director Jennifer McCabe. This was an example of the success already happening in the Malden Public Schools English Learners program in the district and a hoped-for harbinger for the future, when it comes to goals for the over 1,100 EL program students in the district.

  English Learners are students whose first language is not English and who have limited to no proficiency in speaking or reading the English language. For nearly all of these students, a language other than English is spoken at home.

  Malden Public Schools is recognized as the #1 most diverse school district in Massachusetts, and according to the latest Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) figures, MPS is educating 1,118 English Learner students (18.3%). Across the district, over half of the MPS student population, just under 3,500 (57.2%), live in households where English is not the first language.

  Malden first-year Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ligia Noriega-Murphy and her central administrative staff have made it a top priority to enhance and expand the support system for all English Learner students and their families.Establishing the ELPAC is a key facet of the overall strategy toward this goal, EL Director McCabe explained at Tuesday night’s well-attended virtual meeting. McCabe noted the online participation of many MPS principals, other administrators and educators, in addition to parents, caregivers and students.

  “When I see so many of our principals, staff and central administration in attendance at this first [ELPAC] meeting, [it] is a great example of what we are about in this district,” McCabe said, in addressing the English Learners families and students. “We’re here for you in Malden. We are honored to be partners in your children’s learning experience.”

  McCabe said the key goal associated with the formation and Tuesday’s launch of ELPAC was “to connect home to school.” “We want to connect families to the source to their children’s education and encourage them to provide input into how their children learn and how we can do better in the Malden Public Schools,” McCabe said.

  Supt. Noriega-Murphy and Assistant Supt. of Diversity, Equity and Engagement Laryssa Doherty have specifically stressed that for the six months that they have been guiding the district that improved outreach and engagement with all MPS families, including EL families, was an integral element of overall improvement planning.

  At Tuesday’s meeting McCabe discussed the foundational English Learner instructional model in place at MPS and Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) and noted that many specially trained teachers with dual capability of EL and traditional instructional certification are in place in these classrooms.

  A representative of a widely used educational program in the EL curriculum, Anne-Marie Brockwell of Imagine Language and Literacy, gave a brief presentation of that platform, which incorporates a variety of media, including games and fun literacy drills in both English and the participant’s first language. The platform is translated in 15 languages. “Parents and caregivers are very lucky to have their students attending the Malden Public Schools,” Brockwell said. “Malden Public Schools administrators and teachers really care about supporting students in achieving their highest potential.”

  McCabe announced that Imagine Language was donating account memberships to parents and caregivers of MPS students as part of its goal to enhance the opportunities for families to learn English together.

  Also introduced were opportunities for adult family members to participate in English language learning classes at The Immigrant Learning Center in Malden, a first-time partnership with the Malden Public Schools in such a venture.

  McCabe encouraged family members to contact MPS and to email her directly at jm*****@******ps.org with any questions, opinions or concerns regarding their student’s English Learner education.

  Also announced on Tuesday night is a survey that caregivers are asked to complete regarding their family’s English Learner educational experience, which is accessible at

https://forms.gle/HiMtaSBdteEjPFoK8.