Resource Collection: Emerging Bilingual Learners

The term emerging bilingual learner is used here to refer to children birth to age five who are learning two (or more) languages at the same time or are learning a second language while continuing to develop their first (home) language. Emerging bilingual learners are more likely than monolingual children to live in poverty and in families with low levels of education (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, 2017). This collection of resources highlights the work being done to support emerging bilingual learners and their families.

Operationalizing High-Quality Dual Language Programming: From the Early Years to the Early Grades

Report April 9, 2024

The aim of this brief, from Children's Equity Project and The Century Foundation, is to operationalize what high quality dual language immersion looks like for infants/toddlers, preschoolers, and students in Kindergarten through second grade. The brief provides an overview important context and core concepts foundational for this work, including a description of emergent bilinguals in the United States, a strength-based approaches to bilingualism, a historical account of bilingual education, and a description of how DLI education is part of a broader, equitable child serving system.

Understanding Latino Children and Families’ Well-being Requires Data Disaggregated by Birth Within or Outside the United States

Report March 13, 2024

This brief from the National Research Center on Hispanic Children and Families, builds on previous findings and on their previous work showing that the challenges, opportunities, and lived experiences of Latinx individuals vary significantly by their nativity status—a term used to distinguish people who were born in the United States from those who were born outside it- and that these differences are tied in significant ways to their and their children’s well-being. These differences should be considered when examining how policies and programs support the diverse needs of Latino individuals.

Bright Spot: Pamoja

Video December 14, 2022

Pamoja is a collaboration between inspiring and dedicated refugee and immigrant women and mothers in Colorado communities

Bright Spot: Charlotte Bilingual Preschool

Video August 17, 2022

This video highlights Charlotte Bilingual Preschool in Charlotte, NC. Charlotte Bilingual Preschool (CltBP) prepares Spanish-speaking children for success in school and life by providing superior dual language, multi-cultural early childhood education.

Bright Spot: West African Community Council

Video August 17, 2022

This video highlights West African Community Council in Seattle, Washington. The West African Community Council provides a variety of early education and child development services, immigration legal support, and other critical support services built on the foundation of unity, equity, and family.

Bright Spot: Hmong Early Childhood Coalition

Video August 17, 2022

This video highlights Hmong Early Childhood Coalition in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Hmong Early Childhood Coalition (HECC) is a grassroots, community-based organization dedicated to sharing research and evidence-based practices on early learning. HECC partners with families and community agencies in providing education and advocacy to optimize early learning for Hmong children.

Bright Spot: Siembra Montessori

Video August 17, 2022

This video highlights Siembra Montessori, a program of Centro Tyrone Guzman in Minneapolis Minnesota. Siembra Montessori is a dual language learning center for children ages 33 months through 6 years.

Exemplary Supports for Emerging Bilingual Learners

Report July 11, 2022

In this report, we profile 27 efforts in 13 states—Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, and Washington (and one national effort), highlighting how local communities, states, and tribes are working to nurture the assets and meet the needs of emerging bilingual learners.