Portland Public Schools
Multilingual & Multicultural Center
The Multilingual and Multicultural Center oversees Portland Public Schools' English Language Acquisition Program for students whose home language is not English. To ensure equal access to educational opportunities for these students, the Center provides support services in the areas of classroom instruction, summer academic programs, staff development, curriculum and materials development, assessment, parent and community outreach, and advocacy.
Over the years, Portland's Multilingual community has grown exponentially and become increasingly more diverse. Currently, the district has over 1,800 students who come from homes where over 60 different languages are spoken. The students represent about 25% of Portland Public Schools' total enrollment; some 1,400 of them are identified as English Language Learners (view Demographic Data).
On March 16, The Multilingual and Multicultural Center held its seventh annual Rock Around the World event at the Italian Heritage Center in Portland. It was an incredible night of international food and dancing, and was our largest event yet! Proceeds will benefit the Multilingual Summer Academic Program, the goal of which is to maintain and further develop English language reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills gained during the school year.
Multilingual Handbook and Revised Lau Plan
The District Lau Plan has been revised as of June 2010.
The Multilingual Handbook is available online as well.
2011-2012 Professional Development Workshops:
View the current list of Professional Development Workshops. To register, e-mail Suzanne Hardy
IPad Literacy Applications with ELLs in Kindergarten: A Teacher Inquiry Project
Monday, May 21, 3:30-5:00 (1.5 SCH)
In order to better address the individual language and literacy needs of our youngest English language learners, we’ve worked with specifically selected Kindergarten students at Reiche and Riverton since February. Each student has received 40 minutes a week of customized learning opportunities with one or two peers and a teacher We will share our goals for this work, our student selection process, criteria for app selection data collection, lessons learned and preliminary findings. Participants will leave the session having seen apps that address oral language, phonological awareness, alphabet knowledge and sight words.
Presenters: Laurie Andreades, ELL Resource Specialist, Reiche School and Sue Chevalier, ELL Resource Specialist, Riverton School
Target Audience: Pre-K to Grade 1
Location: Lyman Moore Middle School Library
Classroom Shui... Environments For Learning
Come Learn How to Begin the 2012-13 School Year in a New Environment
Tuesday, June 5, 3:30-5:00 (1.5 SCH)
This workshop is based on the newest educational and neuroscience research.
Discover how ergonomics, color, peripherals, hydration, temperature, lighting, fragrance,
clutter, and seating affect you and your students.
Presenter: Denise Sucher has been studying how environments effect the human spirit, health and well being for over 15 years.
Location: Lyman Moore Middle School Library
Make It Happen!
Make It Happen! is a program for English
Language Learners (ELLs) in Grades 8-12 who
need personalized and structured academic
and social support to ensure their success in undertaking rigorous and challenging academic
work that will prepare them for college. We are looking for volunteer academic coaches who have a genuine desire to help young people pursue their interests, succeed in school, and achieve their goals. Learn more
Visit Our Blogs
For the latest news from the Multilingual Office, visit the Multilingual News blog.
For help with Read 180, System 44 and other technology resources, visit the ELL Tech Zone.
For more information about the Make It Happen! program, visit the Make It Happen! blog.