Multilingual Learner Success

Welcome to the Department of Multilingual Learner Success

¡Bienvenidos!

In Richmond Public Schools, we believe every child deserves an excellent education in a community that loves and values them. The Department of Multilingual Learner Success (MLS) leads this work for our multilingual learners, the fastest-growing segment of the RPS student body.

Our Vision

The Department of Multilingual Learner Success envisions an inclusive school environment, guided by service, justice, compassion, and high expectations, where every student, family, and caregiver is welcomed into our RPS community with access to the tools, support, and services needed to thrive holistically.

Our department brings together the Welcome Center, Language Instruction Education Programs, and Language Justice teams to create a full circle of support for students, families, educators, and school communities. From the first day of enrollment through graduation and beyond, MLS provides advocacy, instruction, professional learning, translation and interpretation, family engagement, and trauma-informed care—all grounded in culturally and linguistically responsive practices.

We are here to serve, with compassion and justice at the core of what we do. Our mission is not only to teach language but also to ensure that every multilingual learner thrives academically, socially, emotionally, and beyond in Richmond Public Schools.

Dreams4RPS Goal 1.4 Multilingual Learners

We continue to prioritize meeting the unique needs of our multilingual learners, the fastest-growing segment of the RPS student body.

Prioritizing the unique needs of multilingual learners is essential to ensuring equitable and meaningful access to education and closing opportunity gaps. By investing in targeted support, we improve academic outcomes, empower families, and create an inclusive community that values the diversity of our scholars.

Our Commitment

Enhanced Academic Achievement: Expanding co-teaching models, professional learning, and dual-language programs to ensure rigorous, inclusive instruction that meets the diverse academic and linguistic needs of multilingual learners.

Stronger Sense of Belonging: Providing social-emotional and culturally responsive programming, while strengthening initiatives like the Newcomer Academy, Con Ganas, and mentorship programs so that multilingual learners feel connected, valued, and supported.

Empowered Families and Seamless Integration: Offering family advocacy and literacy programs, alongside a yearlong orientation for recent immigrants, to equip families with the tools and resources they need to navigate the education system and engage as full partners in their child’s educational journey.
 

Multilingual Learner Service Plan

Multilingual Learner Success Manual