Alpine School District has been recognized by the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) as one of the state’s top-performing districts for multilingual (ML) learners.
The district's success is quantifiable: 43% of its multilingual learners met their Individualized Annual Goal toward English proficiency, surpassing the state average of 33%. This performance is the result of a deliberate and intentional shift in practices to better serve students.
“Our success is driven by an asset-based mindset that recognizes the thousands of multi-lingual students whose voices, talents, and achievements continue to shape and strengthen our schools,” said Dr. Annya Becerra-Lowe, Student Educational Access and Opportunity Director for Alpine School District.
An asset-based mindset means valuing the various linguistic and cultural backgrounds students bring to the classroom as strengths that enrich learning. Additionally, ASD teachers excel in intentional collaboration through ML Task Forces, which focus on implementing research-based practices within Tier I instruction. These efforts ensure every multilingual learner has equitable access to rigorous content, prioritizing differentiation to meet varied language and learning needs.
Alpine School District serves the second-largest ML population in the state.
“As multilingual students increase their English proficiency, they are more willing to contribute in class discussions or share an oral presentation with classmates, said Glen Westbroek, a Science teacher at Orem Jr. High.
Westbroek also notices a deeper transformation– like students advocating for themselves and spending more time outside of class engaged in their own learning.
“And I have seen them smiling more,” he added.
This high level of learning opens up incredible opportunities, demonstrating the positive outcome of student-centered experiences.
Mr. Westbroek has seen multilingual students test into the Gifted and Talented program where they flourish, even before achieving 100% English proficiency.
Additionally, as multilingual students increase their command of English, they are able to take elective courses instead of two English language development classes, better comprehend complex concepts in subjects like computer science and math, and begin exploring future careers.
USBE’s recognition of Alpine School District sends a powerful message to the thousands of multilingual students in ASD schools: their languages, cultures, and contributions are valued.
“This honor reflects the collective commitment of our district to providing student-centered experiences that allow every multilingual student to learn at high rates,” said Becerra-Lowe. “We are part of a community committed to helping them thrive academically and personally.
She added that the continued work of Task Forces and collaborative Professional Learning Communities (PLC) ensures that this success will be sustained for years to come.