English as a Second Language Program
Empowering Every Emergent Bilingual Scholar to Excel
Uplift Education’s comprehensive ESL (English as a Second Language) Program provides specialized support at each campus across all grade levels to help our Emergent Bilingual scholars develop English proficiency while excelling academically in all subject areas. Our expert Multilingual Education Coordinators (MECs) and specialized intervention staff work directly with teachers, leaders, and families to ensure every scholar receives the individualized support they need to thrive.
Our ESL Program serves 8,300 Emergent Bilingual scholars—36% of our total student population—representing the rich linguistic diversity that strengthens our school community.
Comprehensive ESL Support Model
Instructional Coaching Excellence:
Our Multilingual ESL Coordinators provide expert instructional coaching support to teachers and school leaders across all Uplift campuses:
- Intensive instructional coaching relationships with teachers including classroom observations, strategy instruction and modeling, and resource provision
- ESL strategy coaching for campus administrators and deans
- Lesson planning and strategy support during content-area Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
- Grade-level walkthroughs with administrative teams and Curriculum & Instruction Specialists
- Collaborative support with Math, Science, Humanities, and ELA curriculum specialists
Direct Student Intervention:
Each campus has dedicated MLP staff who provide direct intervention services to students:
- Interventionists and Teaching Assistants deliver pull-out and push-in intervention services
- Research-based curricula and specialized instructional strategies
- Newcomer-specific support through specialized curriculum and integration strategies
- Support staff provided with ongoing professional development, resource creation, and data analysis to ensure program effectiveness
Uplift’s ESL Program is designed to accelerate English language development while maintaining academic excellence, ensuring every Emergent Bilingual scholar builds the foundation for college and career success.
The Academic Advantages
Research demonstrates that comprehensive ESL programs with specialized support lead to measurable academic outcomes for Emergent Bilingual scholars. Our evidence-based approach ensures students develop the language skills needed for long-term academic success.
- Successful Reclassification: Students who reclassify as English proficient in elementary school tend to outperform their peers, including students who were never emergent bilingual.
- Sustained Academic Progress: Research confirms that Emergent Bilingual students who receive specialized ESL instruction are able to catch up to or surpass the levels of their native-English-speaking classmates.
- Reduced Risk Factors: Students receiving consistent ESL support are less likely to become long-term English learners, avoiding the academic challenges associated with prolonged language development needs.
Studies spanning 25 years of research confirm that “educational outcomes of students in ESL programs, especially those with sustained, specialized instruction, were at least comparable to, and usually higher than, their comparison peers.”
Studies demonstrate that Emergent Bilingual students who receive consistent, specialized ESL support achieve better academic outcomes and are more likely to develop the English proficiency needed for long-term educational success.
Source: Research consistently shows improved outcomes when ELL students receive sustained, specialized language instruction (Genesee et al., 2005; Kinder Institute, 2024).