How to Center Multilingual Families in Community Schools

Governor Gavin Newsom's recent announcement to add nearly 1,000 new community schools as part of California's 2024-2025 budget underscores the growing momentum behind the community school model. These schools aim to offer more than traditional education by integrating academic support, health and social services, and community engagement to support students and families holistically. As these models gain traction nationwide, as noted in recent coverage, it's crucial to consider how they can best serve all members of the community, particularly multilingual learners.

Community schools are increasingly seen as a vital solution to addressing educational inequities by meeting the diverse needs of students and families. However, for these schools to reach their full potential, it's essential to view them through the lens of multilingual learners and their families. Multilingual families bring unique cultural and linguistic assets that can enrich the school community. Their involvement is essential for the success of the community school model. Ensuring these families are centered in the planning and implementation of community schools will be critical in creating inclusive environments where every student can thrive.

In this article, we’ll be covering how to center multilingual families in community schools, answering questions such as: 

1. What are community schools?
2. What are the benefits of community schools?
3. What is the importance of family-school partnerships?
4. How can we center multilingual families in community schools?
5. How can community schools improve?

SEAL (Sobrato Early Academic Language), an organization dedicated to promoting language and literacy development in multilingual learners, recognizes the importance of incorporating multilingual families into the community school framework. Our mission is to ensure that all children, regardless of their language background, have the opportunity to develop strong language and literacy skills in an environment that respects and values their cultural identities. By working to integrate the needs of multilingual families into community schools, we advocate for an educational approach that views these families not as challenges to be managed but as integral partners in the educational process.

To learn more about SEAL, you can see our resources, contact us for more information, or subscribe to our newsletter for updates. 

What Are Community Schools?

Community schools are a transformative model of education that serve as community hubs, offering a comprehensive range of support services and programs designed to enhance student achievement and well-being. Unlike traditional schools, community schools focus on collaboration among school staff, families, local organizations, and community members to address the holistic needs of students and their communities. By recognizing that students often face challenges outside the classroom that impact their learning, community schools aim to create environments that support both educational and community development.

What Types of Programs Do Community Schools Offer?

Community schools provide a variety of programs and services that go beyond traditional classroom instruction to support students and families. These include:

• Comprehensive Services: Community schools offer access to essential services such as healthcare, mental health counseling, and free meals. This approach helps ensure that students are physically, emotionally, and socially prepared to learn. Additionally, many community schools provide expanded learning opportunities, such as after-school programs and summer activities, to help students thrive both academically and personally​
• Adult Education and Family Services: Community schools often provide educational opportunities for adults, including language classes, job training, and parenting workshops. This holistic approach supports the entire family, recognizing that parental involvement and stability are crucial for student success
• Tailored Programs: Programs are customized to meet the unique needs of the community. For example, some schools may offer legal services or housing assistance, reflecting a commitment to address the specific challenges faced by their student population​

How Do Community Schools Differ from Regular Schools?

Community schools differ from traditional schools in several key ways:

• Focus on Collaboration: Community schools are built on partnerships with local community-based organizations (CBOs) and other stakeholders. These collaborations are designed to integrate academic learning with essential services that support students' overall well-being. Regular schools typically focus more narrowly on academics, often without these extensive support networks
• Family and Community Engagement: Engaging families and the broader community is central to the community school model. These schools actively encourage family participation in school activities and decision-making processes, fostering a sense of belonging and shared responsibility. In contrast, traditional schools may have less structured approaches to family and community engagement​
• Adaptability and Responsiveness: Community schools are highly adaptable, responding to the specific needs and strengths of their local communities. This flexibility allows them to implement programs that address local issues effectively. Traditional schools, on the other hand, often adhere to a more standardized approach, which might not be as responsive to the unique circumstances of their students​

Community schools represent a promising model for addressing the diverse and complex needs of today's students. By functioning as hubs of community support and development, they not only aim to improve academic outcomes but also contribute to the well-being and resilience of the entire community.

What Are the Benefits of Community Schools? 

Community schools offer a comprehensive model of education that integrates academic learning with a wide array of support services. This approach provides significant benefits not only for students but also for educators, families, and the wider community.

Benefits for Educators 

Community schools allow educators to focus on creating student-centered environments by aligning resources and support with the specific needs of their students. By prioritizing student-centered budgeting, schools can ensure that funds are allocated to programs and services that directly enhance teaching and learning conditions. This approach supports educators in delivering high-quality instruction tailored to their students’ needs, ultimately improving educational outcomes​.

Community schools also provide a platform for educators to engage more deeply with their professional associations and advocacy efforts. Educators have opportunities to collaborate with families, community organizations, and policymakers to advocate for policies that support holistic education and community well-being. This involvement empowers educators to be active participants in shaping the educational landscape, promoting the community school model as a transformative approach to public education​.

Finally, this model fosters a collaborative environment where educators can build stronger relationships with their colleagues, families, and community partners. These strengthened relationships lead to a more engaged and empowered teaching staff, capable of addressing challenges collectively and implementing innovative solutions that benefit the entire school community. When educators feel supported and connected, they are more likely to remain committed to their schools and to their profession​.

Benefits for Families

Some of the benefits of community schools for families include: 

1. Instituting a strong and proven curriculum in a safe learning environment where positive student behavior is the norm.

One of the core benefits of community schools is the establishment of a safe and nurturing learning environment where positive behavior is encouraged and reinforced. These schools often implement evidence-based curricula that are inclusive and culturally responsive, catering to the diverse needs of their students. By fostering a positive school climate, community schools help students feel safe, valued, and motivated to learn, which is particularly beneficial for multilingual and underserved populations​.

2. Providing learning opportunities within the community through afterschool, vacation and summer programs.

Community schools extend learning beyond the traditional classroom setting by offering various afterschool, vacation, and summer programs. These programs provide students with additional academic support, enrichment activities, and social-emotional learning opportunities. For families, these programs offer safe, structured environments for their children during non-school hours, allowing parents to work or attend to other responsibilities with peace of mind.

3. Addressing students’ health needs through in-school or near-school clinics offering physical, dental and optical treatment.

Community schools often integrate health services into their framework, providing access to essential medical care directly on campus or nearby. These clinics address physical, dental, and optical health needs, ensuring that students are healthy and ready to learn. By offering these services, community schools remove barriers to healthcare, reduce absenteeism, and support the overall well-being of students and their families. This holistic approach is particularly impactful for low-income families and those with limited access to healthcare​. 

The Importance of Family-School Partnerships in Community Schools 

Family-school partnerships are a cornerstone of the community school model, emphasizing the vital role families play in supporting student success. These partnerships are not just about occasional engagement or participation in school events; they involve deep, meaningful collaboration where families are viewed as integral stakeholders in the educational process. Research and practical experience consistently show that when families are actively involved in their children's education, students achieve better outcomes. 

Our report on centering multilingual families in California's community schools highlight several key aspects of these partnerships, including: 

1. Community school planning and development
2. Asset-driven and strength based practices 
3. Powerful, culturally proficient, and relevant instruction 
4. Shared decision making and participatory practices 

Community School Planning and Development

In the community school model, families are actively involved in planning and development processes. They are not just seen as beneficiaries of services but as partners who contribute valuable insights into what their children and the community need. Family members participate in community school advisory councils, help plan actions based on assessments of needs and assets at both district and school levels, and engage in ongoing monitoring and assessment of school initiatives. This inclusive approach ensures that community schools are more aligned with the actual needs and priorities of the families they serve, leading to more effective and relevant educational practice.

Asset-Driven and Strength-Based Practices

Community schools leverage the strengths and assets that families bring to the table, recognizing the wealth of knowledge and experience they possess. This asset-based approach values the cultural, linguistic, and personal histories of students and their families, viewing them as resources that enrich the school community. By acknowledging and integrating these strengths into the school’s fabric, community schools foster a sense of pride and belonging among students and their families. This practice not only helps in creating a positive school culture but also enhances student learning by making it more relevant and connected to the students' real-world experiences.

Powerful, Culturally Proficient, and Relevant Instruction

Family-school partnerships are crucial for developing instruction that is culturally proficient and relevant. Community schools focus on delivering education that respects and incorporates the diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds of their students. This means that teaching and learning are not only about academic content but also about embedding the wisdom, history, and experiences of the students and their families into the curriculum. By doing so, schools make learning more meaningful and engaging for students, helping them see themselves reflected in their education and empowering them to take pride in their cultural identities​.

Shared Decision-Making and Participatory Practices

Shared decision-making is a fundamental aspect of family-school partnerships in community schools. This approach involves creating opportunities for families to participate genuinely in decision-making processes about school policies, climate, and the services provided. Schools engage families, along with other stakeholders such as students, staff, and community members, in collaborative leadership. This participatory practice ensures that the voices of all community members are heard and considered in shaping the educational environment. By fostering such inclusive governance, community schools not only build trust and collaboration but also make decisions that are more reflective of the community’s needs.

How Do We Center Multilingual Families in Community Schools? 

Centering multilingual families in community schools is crucial for creating inclusive and equitable learning environments that reflect the diversity of the community. Based on the insights from the SEAL report, four key strategies can help ensure that multilingual families are meaningfully engaged and supported: 

1. Welcome and build relationships
2. Build collaborative leadership
3. Support learning at home
4. Promote multilingualism and cultural relevance

Welcome and Build Relationships 

The first strategy focuses on welcoming multilingual families and building strong, trusting relationships. Establishing a welcoming environment is essential to making families feel valued and included in the school community. This involves:

• Creating a Welcoming Atmosphere: Schools should ensure that all staff, including front office personnel, greet and engage with families in a friendly and respectful manner. Schools can hold orientation sessions specifically for newcomer families, where they can learn about the school system, available resources, and ways to get involved. These sessions should be offered in families’ preferred languages to make them accessible and effective.
• Hiring Family Liaisons: Employing dedicated family liaisons who speak the families' languages can bridge communication gaps and facilitate engagement. These liaisons play a crucial role in maintaining ongoing communication between the school and families, organizing events, and helping families navigate the school system.
• Creating Opportunities for Interaction: Schools should provide regular opportunities for families to engage with teachers and school staff, such as through community walks, family-student-teacher conferences, and home visits. These interactions allow educators to understand families’ perspectives and build relationships based on mutual respect and shared goals for student success​.

Build Collaborative Leadership

The second strategy emphasizes the importance of shared leadership and decision-making with multilingual families. Community schools should create structures that encourage family participation in leadership roles and decision-making processes:

• Involving Families in Decision-Making: Schools should invite families to serve on advisory councils and committees where they can provide input on school policies, program development, and resource allocation. This shared leadership approach ensures that the voices of multilingual families are included in shaping the school environment.
• Professional Development for Educators: Training teachers and school staff on collaborative leadership and cultural competence is essential. Educators need to learn how to effectively engage families in decision-making, especially those from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Schools can use resources like the Dual Capacity-Building Framework to guide these efforts.
• Building Families’ Leadership Capacity: Schools can partner with community-based organizations to offer workshops and training for families, helping them develop leadership skills and confidence in participating in school governance. These programs can empower families to take active roles in advocating for their children's education and contribute to school improvement efforts​.

Support Learning at Home 

The third strategy focuses on equipping multilingual families with the tools and resources they need to support their children's learning at home. This approach recognizes the valuable role families play in reinforcing learning outside the classroom:

• Providing Resources and Information: Schools should regularly communicate with families about their children’s progress and offer practical tips on how they can support learning at home. This might include providing multilingual learning materials, suggesting educational activities that families can do together, and sharing information about students' academic and social-emotional development.
• Family Workshops and Events: Hosting family engagement nights or workshops on topics like literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional skills can help families learn effective strategies to support their children's education. These events should be accessible to families with varying levels of literacy and should include translation services and culturally relevant materials.
• Promoting Home Language Development: Schools should encourage families to maintain and develop their home languages, recognizing that bilingualism is an asset. Providing information about the benefits of bilingualism and ways to support language development at home can help families feel confident in using their home language as a tool for learning​.

Promote Multilingualism and Cultural Relevance

The fourth strategy centers on promoting multilingualism and integrating culturally relevant practices into the school environment. Recognizing and valuing the cultural and linguistic diversity of the student body enhances educational experiences and outcomes:

• Incorporating Home Languages in the Classroom: Schools can integrate students’ home languages into daily classroom activities, such as through bilingual signage, multicultural curriculum content, and inviting families to share cultural traditions. This not only enriches the learning environment but also affirms students' cultural identities.
• Celebrating Cultural Diversity: Schools should celebrate the linguistic and cultural diversity of their students through events, festivals, and recognition programs. Participating in initiatives like the Biliteracy Pathway Recognitions program can highlight students' achievements in learning multiple languages, fostering pride and motivation.
• Engaging in Cultural Competence Training: Ongoing professional development for educators on cultural competence and the benefits of multilingualism is crucial. Teachers who understand and appreciate the cultural backgrounds of their students are better equipped to create inclusive and effective learning environments.

How Can Community Schools Improve?

Improving community schools can be achieved through several strategic initiatives that engage students, support educators, and connect with the local community:

• Service Learning Projects: Encourage students to participate in service-learning projects that connect classroom learning with real-world community service activities. These projects help students develop practical skills, understand societal issues, and build a sense of civic responsibility and community involvement.
• Local Cultural Integration: Integrate local culture and history into the school curriculum by including lessons about local traditions, historical events, and community leaders. This fosters a deeper sense of community pride, identity, and belonging among students, making education more relevant and meaningful.
• Ongoing Training: Provide regular professional development opportunities for teachers and staff, such as workshops on culturally responsive teaching, innovative instructional techniques, and the use of new technologies. Continuous training helps educators stay informed about the latest educational trends and practices, enhancing their ability to meet the diverse needs of their students.
• Mentorship Programs: Establish mentorship programs that pair new teachers with experienced educators. These programs offer guidance, support, and professional development, helping new teachers adjust to the school environment, develop effective teaching methods, and build confidence in their roles.

These strategies collectively enhance the quality of education in community schools, improve student engagement and learning outcomes, and strengthen the relationship between schools and their surrounding communities.

Support Multilingual Families in Community Schools with SEAL

Hoover Community School, part of the Redwood City School District (RCSD), serves as a compelling case study for successfully integrating multilingual families into the community school framework. As one of the original pilot sites for the Sobrato Early Academic Language (SEAL) model, Hoover has demonstrated a strong commitment to bilingual education and the holistic support of its diverse student body. This commitment has made Hoover a model for other schools aiming to foster inclusive, language-rich environments for multilingual learners.

Whether it is Hoover Community School or community schools across the nation, centering multilingual families can be incredibly impactful for students, families, and educators alike. At SEAL, we base our approach on extensive evidence and research to bastion English Learner, Dual Language Learner, and Multilingual Learner communities in community schools and beyond. To learn more about our work and our efforts to develop more inclusive, empathetic, and effective education programs, you can see resources, case studies, or contact us for more info.