The Massachusetts Context

Building bilingual pathways toward English Learner equity in Massachusetts

All students in Massachusetts should have access to programs that foster bilingualism and biliteracy – particularly those students who enter school already using multiple languages.

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE’s) Office of Language Acquisition, with partners from WestEd and the University of California San Diego, is examining whether the expansion of bilingual programming through the LOOK Act supports English Learners’ equitable access to, participation in and completion of bilingual education programs and the State Seal of Biliteracy. The study findings will inform DESE’s approach to supporting districts and schools in the development of robust bilingual pathways from pre-kindergarten to post-secondary.

Learn more about Massachusetts’ Educational Vision and English Learner Education in the state.

The LOOK Act

All English learners in Massachusetts should have equitable opportunities to participate in bilingual education programs and to earn the State Seal of Biliteracy. On November 22, 2017, Governor Baker signed into law the Language Opportunity for Our Kids (LOOK) Act. The law gives districts flexibility to implement different language acquisition programs for their English Learners. In other words: the LOOK Act made it easier for districts to implement bilingual programs, if they want to. The law also established the State Seal of Biliteracy.

Learn more about the LOOK Act.

Bilingual education programs in Massachusetts

Browse our Resource Library for even more information.

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Massachusetts’ Seal of Biliteracy program

In Massachusetts, districts who want to offer the State Seal of Biliteracy must enroll in the Seal of Biliteracy program and receive approval from the state.

Learn More about Massachusetts’ requirements for the State Seal of Biliteracy. Find the state’s checklist for State Seal of Biliteracy implementation.