Multilingual Programming

Faribault Public Schools values the cultural and linguistic diversity our multilingual learners bring to our schools. We are committed to providing the highest quality education possible to our multilingual English learners. We have established clear processes around screening, identifying, servicing, and exiting to ensure our multilingual English learners are successful in attaining English proficiency while also advancing toward an on-time graduation.

Kim Goblirsch
Student Language Success Coordinator
507-333-6018 |Email

Meet our FACES (Family and Community Engagement Specialists)

FACES serve as a liaison to help families navigate the school system and connect with school staff and resources. They assist families with general information and daily school tasks, which can involve arranging and conducting home visits or participating in school meetings. Our FACES provide interpretation and translation services as needed to ensure clear communication with diverse families, and help to foster a better understanding between cultural and ethnic groups in the community. They are proactive in engaging parents and community members through workshops, meetings, and events to provide leadership skills and help improve student academics. Furthermore, our FACES provide strategies to sustain parent engagement and improve student performance, aligning their work with the district's goals in areas like teaching, learning, and student achievement.

Minnesota Bilingual Seals

The Minnesota Seal of Biliteracy is an official recognition from the state awarded to high school graduates who have demonstrated a high level of proficiency in English and one or more additional languages. This valuable credential highlights your child's linguistic and cultural competence in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The benefits are substantial: it can enhance college applications, lead to opportunities for significant college credit at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (which saves on tuition costs), and strengthen job prospects in a competitive, global workforce that increasingly values multilingualism. By encouraging your student to pursue the seal, you validate their existing language skills as a valuable academic and career asset. For more information, please visit:

https://www.minnesotabilingualseals.com/home

To sign up for the 2025-2026 Minnesota Bilingual Seals Assessment, fill out the form in the link below:

Click here to fill out the form

The image depicts the outline of the state of Minnesota with the text %22MINNESOTA BILINGUAL SEALS%22 and a gold medal-like emblem in the center.

English Learner Identification

During enrollment and registration, Minnesota requires all families to complete the Minnesota Home Language Survey. When a family reports a home language other than English on the language survey, the student (PreK–12th grade) is screened for eligibility for English Learner (EL) services using a proficiency assessment screener. The results of this assessment determine the student's English Language Proficiency (ELP) level and whether they would benefit from EL services. If services are determined to be appropriate, parents will be notified, and the student will receive these services from an EL teacher at their school site.

Annual Notification: Each year, parents receive a Notification of EL Services letter. This letter provides information about the program and the specific types of EL services available to their child.
Refusal of Services: Should a parent choose to refuse EL services, they must contact the school's staff or FACES. A Refusal of Services form must be completed annually to discontinue the EL services for the student.

MN Standardized English Learner Procedures

ACCESS Testing

Minnesota belongs to the WIDA consortium, which supports its member states with robust standards, research, and tools, including assessments and professional development. For all students identified as English Learners (ELs), from Kindergarten through grade 12, Minnesota administers the ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 assessment yearly, typically in February and March. The assessment's outcomes establish the student's WIDA English language proficiency level. This critical information directly dictates the student's service placement and support for EL programming in the next academic year. The WIDA levels are used to determine services for EL services as well as Exit criteria for EL programming. For more information on the ACCESS Test, visit MDE Statewide Testing website.