District and School Support for English Learners
Helping districts build stronger systems for English learners
English learners (ELs) are one of the fastest-growing student populations in schools across the United States. We know from our work with districts that they seek clear evidence and actionable guidance to ensure that their program, policies, and practices lead to positive outcomes for ELs.
For more than 30 years, AIR has partnered with districts nationwide to evaluate programs and services for ELs, identify strengths and opportunities for improvement, and create sustainable systems that support EL student success. Our work combines rigorous research with practical implementation strategies, helping districts move from evaluation to action.
How We Support Districts
AIR partners with districts to:
- Evaluate EL programs, services, and systems;
- Analyze student outcomes by program implementation;
- Engage educators, families, students, and community leaders;
- Conduct root cause analysis to understand systemic barriers and opportunities for improvement;
- Develop strategic plans and implementation roadmaps;
- Monitor progress and measure impact over time; and
- Build district capacity for continuous improvement.
Featured Projects
Metro Nashville Public Schools’ EL Strategic Plan
AIR partnered with Metro Nashville Public Schools to develop a comprehensive 5-year strategic plan to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for ELs. Drawing on student data, stakeholder perspectives, and community input, the plan established a shared vision for supporting students’ linguistic, academic, social, and emotional development. AIR continues to support the district through ongoing monitoring and progress analysis to help ensure successful implementation of the plan.
Arlington Public Schools’ EL Strategic Plan
AIR partnered with Arlington Public Schools to evaluate multilingual learner programs and services and develop a districtwide strategic action plan. Through extensive engagement with educators, district leaders, families, and community members, AIR identified strengths and opportunities within existing systems and helped the district establish priorities for improving multilingual learner outcomes. The resulting strategic plan provides a roadmap for long-term improvement and accountability.
