The El Monte Union High School District’s English Learner Program continues to play a vital role in helping students gain full English proficiency while maintaining pride in their home languages. Designed for students whose primary language is not English, the program focuses on building the academic and communication skills needed to thrive in school and beyond.
Supporting English Proficiency Across All Skills
The district’s English Learner Program serves students at every high school in El Monte Union. Its central mission is to help English learners become proficient in listening, speaking, reading, and writing as rapidly as possible. To achieve this, instruction is guided by the California English Language Development Standards and the English Language Arts/English Language Development Framework.
Students receive both designated and integrated English language development instruction. Designated instruction provides targeted lessons on language structure, vocabulary, and comprehension. Integrated instruction blends language learning into core academic subjects, allowing students to strengthen English skills while meeting state content standards in math, science, and history.
District officials emphasize that this dual approach helps students develop English proficiency in an academically rigorous and culturally supportive environment. Instructional staff are trained to provide lessons that are intellectually rich, developmentally appropriate, and responsive to students’ diverse experiences and needs.
Encouraging Multilingual Achievement
The district’s goals extend beyond English mastery. The program encourages students to maintain and develop their home languages while gaining proficiency in English. This multilingual approach reflects California’s vision of biliteracy as an asset for academic, cultural, and career success.
Students who demonstrate advanced proficiency in two or more languages are eligible to earn the State Seal of Biliteracy, an award that recognizes high school graduates who have attained fluency in English and another language. The program also supports pathways for students to take advanced language courses or participate in heritage language programs.
This commitment to multilingualism aligns with EMUHSD’s mission to prepare students for a global economy that values cultural understanding and communication across languages. The district’s website states that all students should have “the opportunity to develop a high level of proficiency in their home language and/or other languages,” promoting inclusion and respect for the diverse linguistic backgrounds within El Monte Union schools.
Access to Academic Success and Graduation
Equitable access to the full instructional program is a core goal of the English Learner Program. English learners are supported through structured academic support, tutoring, and progress monitoring to help them meet graduation requirements and qualify for college admission.
Teachers use assessment data to tailor instruction, identify learning gaps, and provide intervention when necessary. Students’ progress is measured through annual language proficiency assessments, course grades, and teacher evaluations. Once students demonstrate proficiency comparable to native English speakers, they are reclassified as fluent English proficient and continue receiving monitoring and support as needed.
The district also engages families as partners in their children’s education. Parent advisory committees meet regularly to discuss program implementation, share resources, and promote understanding of academic expectations. These partnerships help ensure that English learners receive the consistent support necessary for long-term success.
A Continued Commitment to Equity and Opportunity
Through the English Learner Program, El Monte Union High School District continues to affirm its commitment to educational equity. By providing structured language development, academic access, and opportunities for multilingual achievement, the district ensures that English learners can participate fully in academic life and pursue their future goals with confidence.
As the program evolves, EMUHSD remains focused on creating inclusive classrooms where language diversity is recognized as a strength. The district’s efforts demonstrate that supporting English learners is not only about mastering a language but about empowering students to succeed in all aspects of their education.
For more information about the program and related resources, visit the district’s website at www.emuhsd.org/english-learner-program-2.
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