Exploring the Use of Multilingual Learner Screeners in California
When educators have access to high-quality screening data, they are better positioned to identify and respond to multilingual learner’s strengths and needs early. To collect this data for transitional kindergarten students, the California legislature passed a bill requiring transitional kindergarten educators to deliver a language screener to their students starting in 2027.
The California Department of Education (CDE) is partnering with the West Comprehensive Center (West CC) to gather information from local education agencies (LEAs) about their experiences implementing transitional kindergarten screeners.
West CC will support CDE by:
- Gathering and analyzing information on transitional kindergarten screener implementation and needs for support through interviews with key LEA staff;
- Sharing findings and strategic considerations for CDE to inform the agency’s planning of support for LEAs in implementing transitional kindergarten screeners and using results to help students needing additional support with English language development; and
- Providing CDE with consultation and support to assist with planning guidance, tools, training resources, and additional LEA data collection strategies.
Through these collaborative efforts, CDE will have greater capacity to provide responsive support for LEAs as they implement statewide transitional kindergarten screener use and communicate effectively about this work with other state officials and partners.
