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 50 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).
We’ve Moved!!!
The Multilingual & Multicultural Center previously located at Baxter School on Ocean Avenue has moved to Lyman Moore Middle School as of June 1, 2009. Our new address is:
Multilingual & Multicultural Center
171 Auburn Street
Portland, Maine 04103
Our phone number stays the same:
874-8135. Our new fax is 842-4660.
Please come by and visit!
Make It Happen! is a program for English
Language Learners (ELLs) in Grades 7-11 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
2008-2009 Language and Culture Workshop Series
Monthly Language and Culture Workshops provide in-service experiences connected directly with the Language and Culture Bulletins. Special Art and Culture Workshops focus on topics such as multicultural books and authors, world languages, native American curriculum, and child-rearing practices in various cultures.
2008-2009 Bulletin Series: Teaching Writing to English Language Learners: Best Practices
2008-2009 Art and Culture Series: Cultivating the Artistic Spirit
2008-2009 Workshop lists
Culturally Responsive Practice 2008-2009 Trainings
Caring Across Communities is a program designed to address the mental health needs of diverse children and youth. The goal of the program is to increase utilization of mental health services among refugee and immigrant children, youth, and their families. One of the strategies to meet this goal is to provide cultural competency training to school-based social workers, counselors, clinicians, and other community service providers who work with children and adolescents and their families so that they can provide services that incorporate respect, cultural sensitivity, and cultural empowerment. 2008-2009 Trainings list