Advancing Equity for Multilingual Learners

80% of teachers say their instructional materials don’t adequately support multilingual learners. Yet research shows that high-quality curriculum, paired with curriculum-based professional learning, can improve student outcomes.

ELSF’s Curriculum Adoption Toolkit is designed to help education leaders—district administrators, curriculum committees, and school boards—select and implement high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) that are inclusive and linguistically responsive. This step-by-step resource ensures multilingual learners are considered at every stage of the adoption process.

Unlike other adoption tools, this toolkit centers on the needs of multilingual learners while also aligning with the learning standards required by states. The toolkit offers practical guidance and downloadable tools for each phase of your adoption journey. Whether you’re just getting started or already deep into the process, you can use the toolkit on its own or in conjunction with your existing adoption framework.

Who is it for? Anyone who makes decisions about curriculum or who plays a significant role in approving instructional materials. The toolkit was created explicitly with the state of California in mind. But, it can be adapted by any state leader, specifically:

• District leaders
• Curriculum adoption committees
• School boards

Why use it? To improve instructional quality and equity for multilingual learners. And, to ensure a more inclusive, research-informed adoption process.

How to use it? Start at Step 1 if you’re beginning your adoption journey. If you’ve already started, jump in where it fits your current phase. Download the tools and resources that are relevant to your current stage in the process. While many of the documents are in PDF format, we encourage you to copy and paste the content into your preferred word processing software and adapt to your needs.

Need to convince someone of the importance of materials adoption process that takes MLLs into account? Then, start with the ‘Making the Case’ section. These resources include case studies, slide decks, case-making reports, and more. These resources will help you make the case for elevating the importance of an inclusive materials adoption process, ensuring that multilingual learners in your district are getting access to the learning they need to succeed.