SLIFE Resources 

Who Are SLIFE?

SLIFE are English learners whose formal schooling was limited, inconsistent, or interrupted — due to factors like migration, conflict, economic hardship, or limited access to education in their home countries. Every SLIFE student's story is different, and their educational histories vary widely.

Strengths SLIFE students often bring:

• Deep life experience and practical, real-world knowledge

• High motivation to learn

• Strength in hands-on, collaborative tasks

• Ability to learn quickly once routines are established

• Multilingual skills

Common challenges to plan for:

• Limited time to catch up on English, grade-level content, and test preparation simultaneously

• Possible gaps in native-language literacy

• Possible experience of immigration-related stress or trauma

• Cultural expectations that may differ from U.S. school norms

• Risk of deficit-based assumptions from adults who don't know their background

If You Suspect a Student May Be SLIFE

Step 1 — Pre-Screener. Contact your school's Language Acquisition Team Facilitator (LAT-F) to begin the process. Complete as much of the SLIFE Pre-Screener as possible using registration and academic records; fill in gaps by talking with the student and/or caregiver. Submit a referral if the student is determined or suspected to be SLIFE.

Step 2 — Interview & Academic Screeners. The ML Department Assessment Specialist conducts a parent interview and, with the LAT-F, a student interview and academic screeners (first-language literacy, numeracy).

Step 3 — SLIFE Services & Support. If identified, the LAT-F and school team develop a student academic support plan covering academic, linguistic, and social-emotional goals, and monitor progress at least twice a year.

Need support once a student is identified? If a student is formally identified as SLIFE and the school team needs additional support, contact the ML Department for consultation.

Other approaches that work well with SLIFE:

• Theme-based, interdisciplinary units — connecting new content to what students already know helps skills transfer faster across subjects.

• Project-Based Learning — especially units aligned with the Massachusetts ESL Model Curriculum Units (MCU), which pair well with PBL when paired with added scaffolds.