Multilingual Programs

Welcome! The Tukwila School District is delighted to offer a wide range of multilingual programs for its students. We welcome linguistic and cultural diversity in Tukwila, and we aim to offer programs that will meet the needs of Tukwila students by making them the center of academic and social endeavors.

Multilingual Programs - Quick Reference Guide

Who Are Multilingual Students?

Multilingual students are learning the language of instruction, and at the same time, they are meeting the challenges of academic content. In contrast to the traditional term English Language Learners, the term “multilingual students” is more inclusive and broad and better acknowledges that students are growing in two or more languages, rather than just focusing just on English language development.

Program Goals

In addition to just providing language development options other than in English, the MLL Programming in Tukwila School District is intended to amplify cultural and linguistic diversity. By honoring multiple languages, especially those spoken in the community, we intend to lift up the identities of those often marginalized from academic systems and place them center in all that Tukwila does to support students academically and socially. The ultimate goal is for students to retain their home languages while learning English. This is in contrast to traditional models in which English often is made the primary language, and the student loses their home language.

Current Programs
Upcoming Programs

Current Programs

Current Multilingual Programs

World Languages

The World Languages Program consists of:

Year-long (0.5 credit) high school courses in Spanish
Middle school courses in Spanish

The high school offers courses every year across all four grade levels. The middle school offers courses on a quarterly basis. All four year universities want to see three years of a world language on a student’s transcript.

World Language Credit Testing

World Language Credit Testing is a 2-3 hour assessment that provides an opportunity for multilingual students to earn up to 4 credits by demonstrating competency in a language other than English. The assessment, which is offered once a year, measures writing, reading, speaking, and listening competency depending on the language. All multilingual students starting in 8th grade and up are eligible to take the assessment. Students who are interested in taking the course should reach out to their counselor.

Seal of Biliteracy

The Seal of Biliteracy is an assessment that students take before graduation. It provides formal recognition of proficiency in at least two languages on their transcript. High school seniors who have passed all the necessary coursework and have passed the test will have the Seal of Biliteracy on their transcript.

After School Home Language Clubs

After school language clubs in various home languages may exist at your student’s school. We want to make room for students to practice and celebrate their home languages. After school programs provide informal learning opportunities.

Upcoming Programs

Upcoming Programs - Fall 2022

Two new programs will be introduced to the district starting in Fall 2022. They are AP Spanish and the Dual Language Program. These two programs will provide students, regardless of their first language, with pathways to greater academic success, identity development, and cultural competency.

AP Spanish Pathway

This accelerated path to earning high school and college credit for Spanish home-language speakers will be offered starting Fall 2022. The program is currently proposed for 8th grade students and above. The AP Spanish program will increase access to advanced placement for Latinx students and validates their identity in relation to academics and learning.

Dual Language Program

Dual language programs engage students in classroom instruction in core subject areas. In kindergarten and Grade 1, 90% of the core classes will be taught in Spanish and 10% in English. And as subsequent grades are added, the instruction will be 50% Spanish and 50% English. Kindergarten and first grade students can enroll in the program in the Fall of 2022. In 2023-24, the program will expand to Grade 2, and in 2024-25, it will expand to Grade 3. Each year a new grade will be added. Apply to enroll your child by filling out an application on the Dual Language Program webpage. The application which will be in various languages and will be on our site Fall 2022.

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