Central Falls outlines services and staffing for multilingual learners as state proposes new MLL regulations

Tiffany Beltram, the district—s director of multilingual learners, told the Central Falls School District Board of Trustees that the district serves 1,366 multilingual learners, which she said represents about 51% of pre‑K–12 enrollment, and that students in the district speak roughly 50 native languages.

Beltram said RIDE has posted proposed new multilingual learner (MLL) regulations and the district has used the last six months to plan for the changes. She described current models in Central Falls: dual‑language instruction at RAICES (50% Spanish/50% English), sheltered/intensive content instruction for many lower‑proficiency students, collaborative ESL-general education classrooms, a newcomer program at the high school, and a small‑group English language development program called SEVA 3.

Beltram presented five vignettes of student experiences to illustrate service models. Examples included a first grader in an intensive MLL classroom who receives 30 minutes of dedicated English language development each day, a fifth grader who receives embedded MLL support plus special education services under an IEP, and a high‑school newcomer placed in a newcomer English language development class with daily check‑ins by an onboarding team. She said the district also serves students identified as SLIFE (students with limited or interrupted formal education).

District staffing and program details shared in the presentation included: about 95% of staff reported as MLL‑trained or certified; a three‑year window for new teachers to obtain required certification; ongoing use of multilingual teaching assistants where certified multilingual teachers are not yet available; and an extended relationship with a consultant who is conducting school learning walks to inform next steps. Beltram said the district has signed the consultant for the remainder of the year and will share findings from school visits when available.

Beltram said the district is piloting English language development (ELD) curricula. One pilot cohort includes 15 students at Calcutta where the schedule was changed to provide ELD instead of an elective three times a week; the high school is piloting Summit K12 materials. She said more pilots could start as soon as next week.

On staffing growth, the superintendent said the district has an offer out for an assistant director of multilingual learners and plans to hire additional instructional coaches to push into classrooms. Board members asked about how program changes would affect current staff and about data for students who have been in district schools for multiple years; Beltram and the superintendent said the district is currently in a research and planning phase and will provide more data and budgetary details at a future meeting.

The presentation emphasized personalization of services, translation and family liaison supports in each school, and classroom strategies such as SIOP and Elevation tools for teachers. Beltram said the district will continue to expand supports for long‑term multilingual learners (students with ACCESS levels 3 and higher) and intends to increase access to dedicated ELD time across grade bands.