In the heart of San Francisco's city hall, a gathering of passionate voices echoed through the chambers, advocating for the needs of English learners and their families. The District English Learner Advisory Committee (DLAC) presented a series of recommendations aimed at enhancing educational outcomes for multilingual students, who make up a significant quarter of the district's student body.

Johnson Horat Demdinsurin, an educational integration specialist, opened the session by sharing his personal journey as a multilingual learner and first-generation immigrant. He emphasized the importance of tailored programs and services that empower students to pursue their dreams. The committee's recommendations stemmed from an extensive needs assessment involving 28 school sites and 434 multilingual families, highlighting the urgent need for improved family engagement and communication within the district.

Parent leaders, including Anna Aviles and Yuan Yuan Shu, passionately shared their experiences and insights. Aviles, a mother of two, underscored the decline in family participation at school sites over recent years. She called for increased efforts to engage families, suggesting that site administrators implement strategies to boost attendance and that the Department of Communications launch campaigns to raise awareness about the English Learner Advisory Committees (ELACs).

Shu pointed out a concerning statistic: only half of the families surveyed utilized the ParentVUE platform for school communication. To address this gap, DLAC proposed enhancing the platform's accessibility and usability, particularly for multilingual families, through user research and training sessions in various languages.

Myrna Vescott, representing another parent leader, echoed the need for robust college and career readiness services tailored to English learners. She urged the district to provide comprehensive counseling that addresses academic planning and financial aid, ensuring that these students have the necessary tools to succeed beyond high school.

As the meeting progressed, Maggie Zhou, the EL family engagement liaison, reiterated the importance of collaboration between the district and multilingual families. She urged the district to prioritize the committee's recommendations, emphasizing that meaningful actions must follow to support the educational journey of English learners.

The evening concluded with a sense of urgency and hope, as the committee's advocates left the chamber, determined to ensure that the voices of multilingual families are not only heard but actively shape the educational landscape of San Francisco. The path forward is clear: a commitment to engagement, support, and understanding is essential for the success of every student in the district.