CALSA's Summer Institute 2026

As Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs continue to expand across California, ensuring equitable access for multilingual learners with disabilities remains both an urgent challenge and a critical leadership responsibility. Too often, students are excluded from DLI due to misconceptions about disability, language development, or program design - limiting access to bilingualism, identity development, and rigorous learning opportunities.


This interactive session, grounded in IDEA, Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), and the California English Learner Roadmap, equips site and district leaders with the tools to make legally sound, equity-driven decisions at the intersection of DLI and Special Education. Participants will engage in real-world case studies, examine common leadership dilemmas, and confront deficit-based assumptions that impact student placement and program access.


Using the 4 Bridges Framework - Belief, Instruction, Systems, and Family Engagement - attendees will explore how to design inclusive programs where services follow the student, not the program. The session emphasizes actionable leadership moves that elevate family voice in IEP and DLI decisions.


Framed by the theme Somos el Puente entre Generaciones, this session challenges leaders to honor students’ linguistic and cultural assets while building systems that support success across all abilities. Participants will leave with practical strategies, a clear understanding of legal expectations, and a concrete action step to strengthen alignment between DLI and Special Education at their site ensuring more inclusive, sustainable pathways for the next generation of learners.