The Sobrato Family Foundation in Cupertino, California, has announced a $29 million investment aimed at developing the language and literacy skills of young English learners in the state.

Part of a ten-year commitment to promote the academic success of every English learner in California, the funds will be used to expand the Sobrato Early Academic Language (SEAL) educational model and advance statewide policies that draw on lessons learned from SEAL classroom practice and research. The foundation, which is celebrating its twentieth anniversary, developed the SEAL model a decade ago to give students the opportunity to achieve age-appropriate literacy in English by the end of the third grade. 

According to an early analysis of the model, students enrolled in SEAL caught up to or surpassed their English-speaking peers in language development and academic performance, despite starting school with less developed language and academic skills. The analysis also found that a subset of these students who were instructed in a fully bilingual approach demonstrated equal or higher levels of growth and achievement in language, literacy, and mathematics compared to other students.

Launched in 2008 in Silicon Valley, the SEAL model today is being implemented in sixteen California school districts and eighty-seven schools. The new commitment by the foundation will be used to expand the model statewide.

"We believe in the promise of California's students and see our diversity of cultures as a strength to build on. We want to ensure that every student has the tools to succeed," said Lisa Sonsini, president of the Sobrato Family Foundation board of directors. "In these times, we believe philanthropy plays an important role. As we celebrate our twentieth year as a foundation, we wanted to show our strong and continued commitment to the students in our state."