Multilingual Learner Services
The multilingual department supports students and parents who speak a language other than English. Our students come from approximately 50 different language backgrounds. KPS also has a dual-language immersion program (Spanish and English) located at El Sol Elementary School.
In order to maximize services, several bilingual centers with full-time staff have been established. Students who need bilingual services and support are encouraged to attend one of the centers. Services are provided at non-center schools on a limited as-needed basis.
Goals of the Bilingual and ESL Program
- To enable students to become proficient in English.
- To enable students to achieve at grade level in content area instruction.
- To help improve the self-concept of students.
- To increase parental involvement.
- To increase the effectiveness of all mainstream teachers and other staff when working with English Language Learners.
- To increase awareness and understanding of language acquisition and the strategies that support the learning of ELLs.
Concern or Complaint Regarding an English Learner
Kalamazoo Public Schools offers services to students who are English Learners. Assessments are provided to determine the level of services required and to monitor student progress in English proficiency. There are ten Language Support Centers where services are provided to English Learners. Please contact the Coordinator of Bilingual Education, ESL, and World Languages for further information at (269) 337-1579.
Concerns or complaints regarding services for English Learners will be promptly investigated. The concern or complaint should be brought to the teacher’s attention first whenever possible. If the concern or complaint is not handled at this level, then the building principal should be notified. If the concern or complaint is not handled or resolved at the building level, then the Coordinator of Bilingual Education, ESL, and World Languages should be contacted at (269) 337-1579.
If you need assistance, but you do not speak English, please call (269) 337-1579.
Language Interpretation Service
Kalamazoo Public Schools partners with Propio Language Services to help families gain real-time access to interpreters to better communicate with their school communities.
The service connects school employees and families to on–demand phone and video interpreters in more than 350 languages, including sign language.
The system is simple to use. Parents or guardians (or anyone whose primary language is something other than English or who is hearing impaired) can point to the language they prefer on a sign, and KPS staff will be able to connect to a Propio translator who can provide real-time language translation.
Once parents identify their native language on a sign the school staff can connect them to a translator using audio or video interpretation through Propio.
