Lincoln Public Schools details Welcome Center intake, bilingual‑liaison and family programs for newcomers

Lincoln Public Schools staff on a district learning lunch outlined how the Welcome Center, bilingual liaisons and family‑focused programs connect newly arrived students and families with school services. Laura Salem, supervisor for the English Learner Program, said the Federal Programs Department’s mission is “to empower students and families, embrace diversity, and to connect home, school, and community.”

Salem described the intake process at the Welcome Center: families who indicate a language other than English on the online home‑language survey required by Nebraska’s Rule 15 are referred for a parent interview and a language‑proficiency assessment that measures listening, speaking, reading and writing; secondary students also take a math proficiency screening. "Parents have that choice," Salem said, explaining that families can opt their children out of EL services but remain connected to supports through teacher‑leader partnerships and regular check‑ins.

Why it matters: the district reported 3,484 students currently served in the…