The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has long been strengthened by the talents and ingenuity of its young people, an increasing number of whom have been born outside the United States but have arrived as school-aged children, either with family members or on their own. Many of these young people not only are English learners, but also experienced interruptions to their education in their home countries, due to political, economic, environmental, or military strife. The world-class education offered by primary and secondary schools in Massachusetts is key to a successful future for these students.

The Toolkit is part of a suite of tools and resources provided by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Language Acquisition. Together along with the 2024 SLIFE definition, the Five Step Process for SLIFE in Massachusetts, and the library of professional learning materials developed through the SLIFE Community of Practice and SLIFE Research Initiatives in Massachusetts, this Toolkit provides a comprehensive approach to meeting the needs of these students. 

 
This Toolkit has been designed for classroom teachers, EL specialists, paraprofessionals, and other educators who work closely with SLIFE and their families. The Toolkit works in conjunction with SLIFE policies outlined in the Five Step Process for SLIFE. The Five Step Process is referenced and linked to throughout the Toolkit. Those interested in setting up a SLIFE program may want to start by reviewing the Five Step Process.

While this Toolkit is specific for Massachusetts educators but complements the principles and ideas described the by the OELA Newcomer Toolkit (2023) and the CAL Literature Review on SLIFE in Massachusetts (2022).

Reflection activities and descriptions of SLIFE students are designed to provide Massachusetts educators with a better understanding of these students and their own teaching. Review these items with your colleagues to develop a deeper understanding of the students and each other.