Long Beach Unified Celebrates Multilingualism and Launch of English Learner Master Plan

Long Beach Unified School District brought together students, families, educators, and community partners on Saturday, March 28, at Browning High School for its first-ever English Learner Symposium, a landmark event to celebrate the strength of its multilingual community and formally launch the district’s English Learner Master Plan.

Superintendent Dr. Jill Baker opened the event with a message of gratitude and purpose, emphasizing that the plan reflects the voices and experiences of students, families, teachers, administrators, and partners across the district. Developed over the past two years, the plan builds on work already underway to strengthen how the district identifies, teaches, and supports multilingual learners.

“Multilingualism is one of LBUSD’s many superpowers,” Dr. Baker shared, highlighting the cultural and linguistic assets students bring to their classrooms every day. She underscored that the Master Plan is both a continuation of progress and a call to action, ensuring that every English Learner is fully supported to thrive academically and beyond.

The symposium featured a keynote address from award-winning author Reyna Grande, student panel discussions, workshops for students and families, and cultural performances that reflected the diversity of the LBUSD community. A resource fair and community marketplace further connected families to supports and opportunities.

Throughout the event, district leaders reinforced a clear message: schools must remain places of belonging, safety, and opportunity for every child. Dr. Baker affirmed the district’s commitment to partnership, noting that real success happens through strong relationships with families and the community.

The district also recognized the contributions of the English Learner Master Plan Writing Team and Symposium Planning Team, as well as the many community partners whose generosity helped make the event possible.

As Long Beach Unified moves forward, the English Learner Master Plan will serve as a guiding framework to ensure every student’s language, culture, and identity are valued, and that every student is prepared for success in school, career, and life.