Bilingual Programs in Massachusetts

Learn more about Massachusetts’ efforts to understand bilingual program implementation in the state and provide meaningful supports to districts and communities.

LOOK Act Implementation Study

With funding from the Institute of Education Sciences, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is partnering with WestEd and the University of California, San Diego to examine the expansion of bilingual programming through the LOOK Act.

The study explores the degree to which the LOOK Act is supporting English Learners’ equitable access to, participation in, and completion of bilingual education programs and the State Seal of Biliteracy.

By summer 2026, the project will:

  • Examine whether bilingual programs and the State Seal of Biliteracy are offered in multilingual communities, as well as districts and schools serving large proportions of English Learners
  • Investigate how access has changed since the passage of the LOOK Act

Analyze enrollment of English Learners in bilingual programs, their completion of the State Seal of Biliteracy, and whether their participation is associated with differential outcomes.

Learn more about the study

Logic Model

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Districts have more flexibility to offer bilingual programs to ELs Districts develop and/or expand bilingual programs, including dual language education. DESE’s Office of Language Acquisition provides guidance and technical assistance. DESE approves applications for new bilingual programs. The State Seal of Biliteracy is established. Districts adopt the Seal of Biliteracy. DESE offers competitive grant funding for bilingual programming. Districts and institutions of higher education develop hubs to provide bilingual and dual language teacher preparation.” Districts provide World Languages professional learning to teachers.