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Newcomer Programs

San Diego Unified receives immigrant students from around the world, with over 75 languages spoken across the district. The Multilingual Education Department provides support for all students that are enrolled in our schools and learning English. 

District Wide Support for all Newcomers

For our newcomer students at the emerging level of English proficiency, we provide the following: 

  • Tier 1 Designated and Integrated ELD instruction in all schools grades K-12. 

  • Professional Development focused on newcomer typologies, creating assets-based learning communities, and best practices for meeting the unique needs of newcomers. 

  • Supplemental language programs: 

    • Benchmark Hello for grades 3-5.​

    • National Geographic Inside the USA for grades 6-12. 

    • Lexia English (online program).

  • Instructional Coordinator Support for consultation and planning for site newcomer support, including professional development and support with Professional Learning Cycles planning of effective strategies for newcomers. ​

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The Children and Youth in Transition department also provides additional resources for refugee students, such as orientation interpretation, tutoring, and other materials as needed.

Resources for Teachers

Classroom resources for Newcomer Students

International Centers

Some San Diego Unified middle and high schools offer specialized programs for students who are new to English, new to the country, new to schooling, and/or have had interrupted schooling. The International Centers are designed to provide accelerated support in foundational literacy for newcomer English Learners. Students enrolled at an International Center School are enrolled in a literacy support class in addition to ELD. The ELD course sequences for each secondary school are listed below. 

Secondary English Language Development Course Sequences

ELD

For students at the Emerging, Expanding, or Bridging stages of language development. These are Designated ELD courses taught with the integration of content and English language development and are taught by teachers holding specialized credentials, 

Middle School Sites

  • Challenger

  • Correia

  • Creative Performing Arts and Media Arts

  • Dana

  • De Portola

  • Farb

  • Innovation

  • Knox

  • Lewis

  • Logan Memorial Education Complex

  • Mann

  • Marshall Middle

  • Marston

  • Millennial Tech Middle

  • Muirlands

  • Standley

  • Wangenheim

High School Sites

  • Canyon Hills

  • Clairemont

  • Crawford

  • Henry

  • Hoover

  • Kearny Complex

  • La Jolla

  • Lincoln

  • Madison

  • Mira Mesa

  • Morse

  • Point Loma

  • Scripps Ranch

  • Serra

  • University City

For questions regarding newcomer programs, please contact Karrie Schoettler, kschoettler@sandi.net

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