At Denver Public Schools (DPS), we celebrate the rich linguistic and cultural diversity that our students bring to the classroom. We believe that every student's home language and culture are invaluable assets that, when combined with English language proficiency, empower students to achieve success in both school and life.

The Multilingual Education (MLE) Department collaborates with schools to develop programs where all students graduate with an appreciation for cultural and linguistic diversity. We aim to enable students to leverage their native languages and cultures as strengths in their educational journey.

Aligned with DPS's vision, our mission is to ensure that every Language Learner has the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to become a contributing member of our diverse society. The MLE Department is committed to creating equitable learning opportunities and providing instructional services that support every Multilingual Learner (MLL) in DPS to succeed and thrive.

What we do

Through our Program Design and Development and Program Implementation and Effectiveness teams, we offer guidance, resources, training, and support to ensure that all schools provide equitable, rigorous learning environments for Language Learners.

We honor the unique stories and voices of our students with home languages other than English by referring to them as Multilingual Learners (MLLs). We believe that developing home language skills helps students stay connected with their families, cultures, and communities. We support our students in further developing their native language proficiency both at school and at home and recognize this achievement through the Seal of Biliteracy.

Who we serve

The Multilingual Education Department serves all Language Learners in DPS, including MLLs with home languages other than English and students enrolled in our dual language and world language programs.

DPS is proud to have over 35,000 MLLs with home languages other than English, spanning from Early Childhood Education (ECE) through 12th grade. These students enrich our district with the sounds of more than 200 languages. Spanish is the most common home language among MLLs in DPS, followed by languages such as Arabic, Amharic, Dari, French, Nepali, Somali, and Vietnamese.

Additionally, over 17,000 students are enrolled in world language courses at DPS schools, studying languages including Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, and Lakota.

DPS currently operates 17 dual language/immersion schools, educating approximately 4,500 students in language pairs such as Spanish and English, Mandarin and English, or French and English.