Strategic By Design Part II

Part Two: From Systems to Students

While Part One of Strategic by Design focuses on building strong multilingual systems, Part Two shifts the lens to the student experience within those systems. This section centers on the acculturation process—what multilingual learners need to successfully navigate a new academic, cultural, and social environment.

Part Two is designed around a state-approved acculturation course model and is organized into three interconnected parts. Together, they provide a structured pathway that helps students move from initial orientation to long-term success, without sacrificing identity, dignity, or opportunity.

The Three Parts

Academic Orientation
Students cannot succeed in a system they do not understand. This part focuses on explicitly teaching how school works—academic expectations, routines, grading, assessment, and classroom norms—so students can access learning with confidence and clarity.

Cultural Development
Acculturation is not assimilation. This part supports students in developing a bicultural identity by understanding cultural norms, navigating differences, and valuing their home language and culture while learning how to function within a new school and community context.

Personal Success
Success looks different for every student. This part helps students identify goals, build agency, and develop the skills needed to navigate pathways toward graduation, postsecondary options, and life beyond school.

Why Part Two Matters

Strong systems alone are not enough. Part Two ensures those systems translate into meaningful student experiences by providing intentional structures that support belonging, identity development, and long-term success for multilingual learners.