Instructional Programs

New Bedford Public Schools educates EL students in a Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) or our Dual Language Education (DLE) program. In our SEI Program, all PK-12 classroom instruction, books, and instructional materials are in English, and all subject matter is taught in English. The SEI Program consists of two components: Sheltered Content Instruction and English as a Second Language (ESL). In our DLE Program, offered to both English native speaking and Spanish speaking students, the grade level content in delivered in Spanish and English.
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Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Program

HS Newcomer 21The SEI program is currently being offered at the following levels - Elementary, Middle, and High School. As of this year, New Bedford High School, Hayden-McFadden, Jacobs Elementary School, and Lincoln Elementary School offers a Newcomer Program to help new arrivals adapt to their environment.

In grades PK-12, New Bedford Schools has about a hundred qualified English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers and all Math, ELA, Science, Social Studies, Elementary, Early Childhood, and Special Education Content Area Teachers (CAT) have been trained how to effectively teach English Learners in content area classes. CAT & ESL teachers make use of specific teaching techniques to assist EL students. We also have a Newcomer Program to help new arrivals adapt to their new environment.


The SEI Program consists of two components: Sheltered Content Instruction and English as a Second Language (ESL).


Teachers also are working on the alignment of curricular models with the Massachusetts Common Core and the World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) standards to improve the EL students' progress towards their attainment of English language proficiency.

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Students with Limited or Interrupted Education (SLIFE)

Our SLIFE programs were created to support students with limited education or students who never attended school to acquire academic knowledge and to assimilate to the American schooling. We currently offer this at all levels at the following schools: New Bedford High School, Roosevelt Middle School, and Hayden McFadden Elementary School.

Dual Language Education (DLE) Program

Check out our program brochure HERE.

NBPS is currently in its 4th year of its Dual Language Education Program that was proudly launched at the AJ Gomes School in the school year 2018-2019. A committee made of various staff members from the Gomes School researched and visited Dual Language Education Programs throughout MA and RI prior to bringing this program - the first of its kind to the city - to New Bedford. Since its inception, this district program has seen a growth in interest throughout the city. Next school year, 2022-2023, a 5th grade class will begin for our Dual Language Learners.

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Dual Language Education (DLE) is an educational program in which students learn academic content in 2 languages - English and Spanish at Gomes - and as a result, they will become bilingual and biliterate, a valuable tool they can carry with them for the rest of their lives. The goals of the program are:

Academic achievement
Bilingualism and biliteracy
Cultural competency

 Students enrolled in the program develop a positive sense of self and gain an appreciation for other cultures. Additionally, they have the opportunity to develop and nurture relationships with peers and teachers and can form long-lasting bonds with cultures and communities outside of their own. Once a child enters the DLE program, it is in the best interest of the students to remain in the program. All students in the DLE program stay together from Kindergarten to grade 5.

NBPS in honored to provide such an exceptional educational opportunity to our students - the first of its kind in the city. We look forward to assisting all families with school age children who want to become bilingual and biliterate in Spanish and experience academic and social success as global citizens.

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