Coalition of Community-Based
Heritage Language Schools

Mission Statement

The Coalition of Community-Based Heritage Language Schools is a nationwide initiative, established in 2014, to connect, support, and advocate for these schools and make them visible, valued, and vital in the language learning landscape in the United States. These schools are the hidden treasure in our neighborhoods and across the country, and we all benefit when we uncover and celebrate this treasure.

Vision

The Coalition envisions a world where all heritage language communities are empowered to preserve, promote, and pass on their linguistic and cultural legacies. We strive to create a society that values multilingualism, supports intergenerational language transmission, and recognizes community-based schools as vital contributors to educational equity, cultural identity, and global citizenship.

Goals

We seek to:

  • Make connections: Connect and facilitate communication among community-based heritage language (CBHL) schools/programs in the U.S.
  • Provide support: Provide CBHL schools with information and resources on important topics that will result in educational excellence and student success
  • Document schools: Gather data about CBHL schools and press for inclusion of this data in official U.S. education statistics and national reports
  • Increase visibility of schools: Increase the visibility of CBHL schools and promote partnerships with public and private schools, U.S. educators (school districts, U.S. Department of Education), politicians (State Boards of Education, state representatives), researchers, and other stakeholders.
  • Increase recognition of the value of schools: Strive for CBHL schools to become a legitimate part of the national language education landscape
  • Recognize students’ proficiency: Urge for recognition of students’ heritage language proficiency via AP credit, the Seal of Biliteracy, and other means. Seek ways for students to receive U.S. high school credit for their language skills
  • Increase financial support: Voice the need for financial support and funding for CBHL schools/programs
  • Support new language communities: Work with new immigrant communities to support them in retaining their home languages and building their own CBHLS

Document schools

Gather data about CBHL schools and press for inclusion of this data in official U.S. education statistics and national reports.

Make connections

Connect and facilitate communication among community-based heritage language (CBHL) schools/programs in the U.S.

Provide support

Provide CBHL schools with information and resources on important topics that will result in educational excellence and student success

Support new language communities

Work with new immigrant communities to support them in retaining their home languages and building their own CBHLS

Increase visibility of schools

Increase the visibility of CBHL schools and promote partnerships with public and private schools, U.S. educators (school districts, U.S. Department of Education), politicians (State Boards of Education, state representatives), researchers, and other stakeholders.

Increase recognition of the value of schools

Strive for CBHL schools to become a legitimate part of the national language education landscape

Recognize students’ proficiency

Urge for recognition of students’ heritage language proficiency via AP credit, the Seal of Biliteracy, and other means. Seek ways for students to receive U.S. high school credit for their language skills

Increase financial support

Voice the need for financial support and funding for CBHL schools/programs Advocate

Representatives

Coalition language representatives act as liaisons between the Coalition and our partner schools. They play important roles, such as collecting feedback, sharing resources, and advocating for recognition. The Coalition also partners with representatives at the state level.