For educators working to expand bilingual and biliterate learning opportunities in the Inland Empire, the work increasingly depends on sharing strategies, resources and support across classrooms, school districts and universities.

That regional collaboration will take center stage Nov. 7, when Cal State San Bernardino hosts its fourth annual Dual Immersion Symposium, “Equity in Multiliteracy,” at the James R. Watson and Judy Rodriguez Watson College of Education. The free, in-person event begins at 8:30 a.m. and is open to educators, faculty members, administrators, families and community partners.

Registration is available through the 4th Dual Immersion Symposium registration form. The symposium’s agenda is also available online.

The symposium will feature a keynote address by Lourdes Orueta, the education consul from the Education Office of the Spanish Embassy in Los Angeles, and practitioner-led breakout sessions focused on teaching strategies, advocacy, innovation, collaboration and program development. Attendees will have opportunities to share ideas, build partnerships and learn about instructional resources, language assets and learning tools for dual language immersion programs.

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The Watson College of Education presents the annual symposium in collaboration with CSUSB’s Spanish Bilingual Authorization program. Although Spanish programs are common in the Inland Empire and will receive significant attention, the symposium also welcomes educators and practitioners working with other partner languages.

The demand for bilingual educators has grown exponentially as communities across the nation recognize the benefits of multilingual education. Research consistently shows that bilingual instruction improves academic outcomes, enhances cognitive development, and fosters cross-cultural understanding. Despite this, many schools struggle to find qualified bilingual teachers to meet the needs of their diverse student populations.

A report by the Learning Policy Institute estimated that over 400,000 teaching positions were either unfilled or filled by teachers not fully certified. This shortage is especially severe in bilingual education, where the need for qualified teachers consistently exceeds the available supply. In that same line, the California State University system, of which CSUSB is a part, produces approximately 50% of new bilingual teachers in California.

The symposium is intended to strengthen partnerships among schools, school districts and universities as dual language immersion programs continue to develop throughout the region. It also serves as a network for educators and community partners seeking to share effective practices and support multilingual learners.

Jordi Solsona-Puig is chair of the symposium, and Nena Tórrez is co-chair. The annual event began in 2023 with the theme “Equidad y Justicia,” or “Equity and Justice.” The second symposium focused on “Equity in Translanguaging,” and the third, held in 2025, addressed “Equity in Technology.”