A Community-Informed Approach to Boldly Reimagining Multilingual Education in New York City Public Schools  (Room 907)

Culturally Responsive Systems Track

Presenters: Anna Pons & Dr. Brenda Garcia

The “Boldly Reimagining Multilingual Education for New York City Public Schools” initiative offers a powerful case study in how partnership and shared accountability across districts, schools, and communities can drive culturally responsive, systemwide change. This workshop explores how NYCPS confronts persistent inequities by advancing policies that affirm multilingual and immigrant students’ identities, close opportunity gaps, and promote equitable outcomes.

Participants will examine the coalition-building strategy that elevated community voices into a formal high-level advisory council—offering a replicable model for collaborative governance. The session highlights four key enablers for shifting policy and practice: (1) establishing clear systemwide standards for program quality, (2) improving access to data and information, (3) prioritizing equitable resource allocation, and (4) adopting an asset-based mindset that recognizes the strengths and promise of multilingualism.

Participants will leave with a customizable Boldly Reimagining Multilingual Education Framework to guide policy evaluation and support sustainable, equity-driven progress in their own districts.

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