Bedford highlights major gains, staffing and community support for English‑learner services

Carrie Powers, director of English Language Education, told the committee the district’s English‑learner program has expanded rapidly to meet an unexpected influx of newcomers and students with interrupted formal schooling. "Last year, 73% of our English learners made progress, which is remarkable because the state averages 30," Powers said, crediting staffing levels and targeted newcomer programs.

Powers and her team described a range of services: small‑group newcomer classes, SLIFE (students with limited or interrupted formal education) blocks that include intensive ESL and content supports, push‑in and pull‑out models, and a dual‑language program at Davis. Presenters said Bedford’s EL staffing ratio is roughly one teacher to 14 EL students, and they detailed grade‑by‑grade structures that preserve students’ homeroom membership while providing concentrated EL instruction.

The EL team also described an adult ESL program, which served hundreds of adults and children this year, and credited a three‑year Cummings Foundation grant for helping scale services. The EL program reported extensive volunteer support — more than 70 community volunteers helped in classrooms, tutoring and the children’s literacy room — and staff read a long list of volunteer names to acknowledge the contribution.

Committee members praised the quick ramp‑up and inclusivity of services. Gerard Elian, the district’s Haitian‑Creole/French liaison, thanked the community on families’ behalf: "They feel so blessed and fortunate to have been accepted in a community that came and accepted them with open arms," he said.

Powers asked the committee to consider a minor title change (from EL Director K–12 to EL Director K–Adult) to reflect the scope of services; she also reminded the committee about upcoming EL events including an awards night and summer programs. The presentation closed with thanks to teachers, volunteers and funders.

Next steps: staff will continue to track ACCESS and reclassification data, run summer EL programs, and return to the committee as needed about program staffing and any requested title changes.