During a recent government meeting, Shane Birchell, Assistant Administrator of Multilingual Programs, presented the annual State English Learner Report, highlighting significant trends in the district's multilingual learner population. The report, which is available on the district's website, provides a comprehensive overview of how the district serves its English learners, including funding and demographic data.

Birchell noted that the district currently has 2,528 active English learners, representing approximately 26% of the total student body. This figure reflects an increase from the previous year's count of 2,236. He emphasized that while the report captures active English learners—those who have not yet demonstrated proficiency in English—the total population of students who have exited the program or tested but did not qualify is closer to 40%.

The presentation also focused on adolescent newcomers, defined as students who are new to the district and have arrived in the U.S. within the last three years. Birchell indicated that the district is experiencing a notable rise in these numbers, particularly among secondary students.

In discussing language diversity, Birchell pointed out that 76% of the current English learner population speaks Spanish, with other languages such as Chuukese, Arabic, and Ukrainian also seeing increased representation. He highlighted the district's unique position as one of the most linguistically diverse in the state, with a wide array of home languages among its students.

The meeting concluded with Birchell encouraging further engagement and questions regarding the report, underscoring the district's commitment to supporting its multilingual learners and adapting to their evolving needs.