Dual Language Learner (DLL) Support

Resources on this page include:

• California State Preschool Program (CSPP) Resources
• Additional Resources
  • Resources to share with families regarding the benefits of multilingualism and home language development
  • Resources to share with educators regarding the benefits of the DLL identification process
  • Research to Practice
  • Dual Language Learner Research
  • Classroom Support
  • Dually Identified Children: resources to support dual language learner children with disabilities

California State Preschool Program (CSPP) Resources

• Management Bulletin (MB) 25-07: Revised Guidance on Identification of Dual Language Learners
• Family Language Instrument (Attachment A) (DOCX; Updated Jul-2025)
• Family Language and Interest Interview (Attachment B) (DOCX; Updated Jul-2025)
• California State Preschool Program Dual Language Learner Identification Tools Translations
• Preschool Language Information System (PLIS) Support
• Dual Language Learner Guidance and Preschool Language Information System Frequently Asked Questions
• Fact Sheet: Dual Language Learners in the CSPP 2023–24 (PDF)
• Webinar Resources: Dual Language Learners Series Note: Portions of the webinars refer to MB 23-03 which has been rescinded and replaced by MB 25-07. Please refer to MB 25-07 for guidance on identifying DLLs in the CSPP.

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Additional Resources

Resources to share with families regarding the benefits of multilingualism and home language development:

• Ways to Develop Your Child's Multilingualism (Spanish) (PDF)
• Keeping Your Home Language (available in 16 languages)
• The Importance of Home Language Series (available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and other languages)
• Supporting DLLs' Families : This resource engages DLLs’ families in discussion about language goals and practices. Topics include how families frame their language goals and practices and what those practices look like during everyday interactions with children such as playing and reading.
• Two Languages, Twice the Opportunities Dual Language Learning Campaign Quality Start Los Angeles (qualitystartla.org)
• Resources for Families Quality Start Los Angeles (qualitystartla.org)
• Quality Start LA Resource Main Landing Page
  • DLL is a Superpower Videos : 7 languages (Armenian, Khmer, Vietnamese, Korean, Spanish, Chinese, English)
  • Family Tip Sheets (PDF): available in all 7 languages
  • OutreachToolkits (PDF): available in all 7 languages
  • Multilingual Read-Alouds : These are read-alouds by the authors of the books in a variety of languages including Chinese, Spanish, Korean, Tagalog, Russian, Armenian and Korean as well as English
  • Parent Perspective videos : available in English, Spanish and Chinese
• Parent Resources from the California Department of Education's (CDE) Preschool through Third Grade (P-3) Guide to Supporting Multilingual Learners:
  • Parent Communication -- Your Child's Language Journey: Understanding Language Support in California State Preschool Programs (DOCX)
  • Parent Communication -- Your Child's Language Journey: Understanding Language Support in Transitional Kindergarten (TK) (DOCX)
  • Parent Communication -- Your Child's Language Journey: Understanding Language Support in Kindergarten and Beyond (DOCX)

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Resources to share with educators regarding the benefits of the DLL identification process:

• NEW DLL Identification Guide for CSPP Providers : Resource developed by Californians Together, Early Edge California, and Catalyst California to support California State Preschool Program (CSPP) providers in the two-step process for Dual Language Learner (DLL) identification.
• Quality Start Los Angeles DLL Resources : Resources for educators from Quality Start Los Angeles
• Resources from the CDE's P-3 Guide to Supporting Multilingual Learners:
  • Educator Resource on Language Classification from Preschool through Third Grade (DOCX)
    

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Research to Practice:

• Early Learning and Care for Multilingual and Dual Language Learners Ages Zero to Five (PDF): This research to practice was developed by the CDE.
• Multilingual Programs and Pedagogy: What Teachers and Administrators Need to Know and Do (PDF): This research to practice was developed by the CDE.
• P-3 Guide to Supporting Multilingual Learners, A Preschool Through 3rd Grade Toolkit : This guide was created by the CDE to help P-3 school district leadership, preschool program administrators, principals, and other educators, so that they are better able to meet the needs of young multilingual learners across the state. This new resource can be found on California Educators Together after you sign into your free account.
• Multilingual Learning Toolkit : This toolkit was developed by Early Edge California, CDE, and partners, and includes evidence-based practices for supporting multilingual children in preschool through third grade.
• Dual Language Learner Professional Development: This page holds professional development resources for working with dual language learners.
• Professional Development Videos & Resources for Administrators, Trainers and Coaches : This resource features self-reflection on one’s own identity, culture, and language as foundational to culturally sustaining family engagement and provides considerations to building trusting relationships with families of DLLs with a focus on learning about family language goals and practices.
• Quality Start Los Angeles provides professional development for early educators, including live courses, workshops, and external PD opportunities focused on quality improvement in early learning programs.
• The Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Early Care and Education team : This website provides a wide range of early childhood professional development opportunities, including workshops, trainings, and resources that support instructional quality and workforce development.
• Early Edge Dual Language Learners : Early Edge California is a nonprofit organization focused on transforming Early Learning and Care at a systemic level through targeted policy change and investments. Their webpage has publications and materials and webinars, and videos among other things to help support DLLs.

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Dual Language Learner Research:

• A Promising Approach for Dual Language Learners 2022 (PDF): This study was conducted by the American Institutes for Research.
• Dual Language Learner Pilot Study : This study was conducted by the American Institutes for Research and First 5 California.

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Classroom Support:

• California's DLL Identification Process Helps Teachers Support Young Children & their Families: This video was developed by Early Edge California and shares from a teacher and parent perspective the benefits of the DLL identification process for children, teachers, and families.
  • English Video (Video; 2:29)
  • Video en espanol (Video; 2:29)
• Dual Language Learners Initiative Quality Start Los Angeles : Resources for families and educators as provided by Quality Start Los Angeles.
• A three-part webinar series for teachers that focuses on Family Engagement, Oral Language Development, and Home Language Development : This series was developed by Early Edge California and Sobrato Early Academic Language (SEAL).
• Classroom Strategies webinars developed by Early Edge California:
  • English: Effective Classroom Practices for Equitably Serving Preschool-Age Dual Language Learners (Video; 1:01:54)
  • Spanish: Prácticas efectivas para apoyar equitativamente a los estudiantes preescolares que aprenden en dos idiomas (Video; 1:00:51)
• Personalized Oral Language Learning (POLL) to support young Dual Language Learners and their families
• Resources for Supporting Dual Language Learners : Partnered resources developed by Early Edge to support teachers and administrators in meeting the needs of DLLs and engaging with their families.

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Dually Identified Children: resources to support dual language learner children with disabilities:

• Inclusive Early Education Resources Page: Resources to support inclusive policies and practices for early care and education.
  • Dual Language Learners: Key Considerations for Language, Learning, and Inclusion (Imperial County SELPA) (PPTX; Added 10-May-2024)
  • Pre-Referral Processes in California State Preschool Programs: How Practitioners Decide to Refer Multilingual Children for Special Education Evaluation (Added 10-May-2024)
  • Resourcing Supports for Young Multilingual Learners with Suspected Disabilities in California: Learning Collaborative Recommendations (Added 10-May-2024)
• Inclusive Practices for Multilingual Learners with Disabilities: Advocacy, Planning and Collaboration : This resource from the University of Wisconsin guides reflection on instructional planning and collaboration.

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