As an education researcher focused on improving schooling and learning experiences for multilingual learners, I have always been aware of the incredible diversity in the backgrounds of multilingual learners in US classrooms. Among them, students with limited or interrupted formal education (sometimes…
This month, we celebrate the third anniversary of the founding of the MLRC. When we chose our name, wrote our mission, and designed our logo, we embarked on a journey together with educators and scholars around the world to connect research with practice to better serve multilingual learners. The MLRC School Network, a community…
As School Network Coordinator at the MLRC School Network, I have the privilege of hearing incredible stories about how our members are making the most of their membership to transform education for their multilingual learners (MLs). The landscape of international education is shifting rapidly. According to the 2026 ISC Research Global International Schools Snapshot, “International education is now driven primarily by…
In international schools across the globe, demographic shifts are contributing to a change in the linguistic landscape, with more students who come to school speaking primarily the local language. How can schools respond to ensure their guiding documents align with both their…
The Multilingual Learning Research Center’s (MLRC) mission of advancing outcomes for multilingual learners through socially just research is embraced by our UW-Madison undergraduate student interns. Through guidance and mentorship, our student interns are integral contributors who help shape and sustain a culture of supportive learning practices, taking their…
The MLRC School Network has emerged as a true global laboratory in 2026, with more than 270 educators and 130 member schools across 60 countries working together to bridge the gap between academic theory and classroom reality. As the 2025–2026 MLRC Research Symposia across the globe wrap up, we find ourselves reflecting on our global Research-Practice Partnership (RPP) and its role in improving teaching…
The MLRC is excited for the return of the Speaker Series! This virtual gathering highlights current research related to the teaching and learning of multilingual learners. Every first Thursday of the month, a researcher or team of researchers presents insights, findings or learnings from their research. Recordings are…
On November 13, 2025, at La Cosecha Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Carrie and I joined other bilingual researchers to connect, plan, and continue to advance dual language bilingual education research. While La Cosecha has historically been a practitioner-focused conference, its organizers…
Watch educators, who are amazing chameleons, seamlessly change roles from Teacher to Social Worker to Referee to IT Expert, oftentimes within the same day. But a Researcher? That’s not necessarily a hat that most educators feel they know how to wear. As a former elementary teacher, I did not see myself as a researcher. For me, that term conjured…
Centering student voice in teaching and learning is key for student learning. When students see their ideas represented during instruction, they feel empowered and engaged. It also helps them make connections between prior learning and new content. For multilingual learners who may…