In this timely webinar, we explore critical questions at the intersection of literacy development and educational equity for multilingual learners with limited or interrupted formal education (SLIFE). Part of our Research to Policy: Critical Conversations in Language Education series, this 30-minute session brings together educators, researchers, and policy advocates to examine the unique needs of students entering schools with gaps in formal education, many of whom are learning new languages while adapting to unfamiliar systems and social environments.

Our featured guest, Dr. Michelle Marrero Colón, is a scholar-practitioner who researches best practices for multilingual learners—especially SLIFE—and applies her findings directly in the classroom. Her insights bridge academic research and real-world application, offering practical strategies grounded in both evidence and experience.

Dr. Marrero Colón will be joined by facilitators Dr. Marguerite Lukes and Marybelle Marrero Colón for a dynamic conversation on how schools can respond more effectively to the literacy needs of SLIFE students. Topics include dual language literacy, professional learning for educators, social-emotional supports, and schoolwide models that center student dignity and growth.

This session is designed to inspire action and inform equitable practices in classrooms, schools, and policy spaces.

Register Here