multilingual learners

The science of reading is a series of facts about how children learn to read, but it is not an implementable model itself. Critics have raised concerns that focusing too heavily on this science might disadvantage English learners by neglecting support for their home languages. A report from Joanna Yip suggests improving literacy by centering multilingual learners' needs and helping students bridge knowledge between their first language and English.

New Jersey has invested a record $1.4 billion in preschool education, but challenges remain in providing consistent language support for multilingual learners. While state laws mandate language services, implementation varies across districts, and preschoolers were only recently included in multilingual learner policies. Over 47% of children ages 0–5 in the state are multilingual learners, yet infrastructure and targeted approaches are still lacking.

New Jersey has invested a record $1.4 billion in preschool education, but support for multilingual learners remains inconsistent despite state mandates. While the state recently updated policies to include preschoolers as multilingual learners, experts argue that infrastructure and targeted funding are needed to address language barriers for over 11,300 preschool-aged students identified as multilingual learners.

Newark Public Schools' enrollment decreased by 764 students in the 2025-26 school year, the first decline since 2019, driven by drops in multilingual learners, white, and Black student populations. The district's Hispanic student enrollment grew slightly, while early and transition grade levels saw the sharpest declines.