The benefits of bilingualism and biliteracy for K‒12 students

“I have never met a parent who didn’t want the very best for their child.”

We suspect that every school and district leader will agree with this statement. Parents and other caregivers want their children to have the best opportunities in life, and we know that equipping children with the right tools for success is key to making this happen.

In today’s world, these tools include more than just textbooks and technology, however. They also include the power of language. And in a world that’s more connected than ever, bilingualism and biliteracy are more than just “nice-to-haves.” They’re superpowers.

In this blog, we’ll explore key benefits of bilingualism and biliteracy for K‒12 students’ academic and non-academic development. We’ll also highlight the work we’re doing at Renaissance to support dual language and bilingual education programs across the US.

How home language drives academic achievement

Let’s start with a key idea: Being bilingual isn’t just about knowing two languages. It’s about giving children cognitive advantages, a deeper cultural understanding, and opening doors that would otherwise be out of reach. This idea became crystal clear to us several years ago, during the field-testing process for a new Renaissance assessment, Star CBM Lectura.

Each oral reading passage in Star CBM Lectura was developed authentically in Spanish, something we take great pride in. The magic happened when a little girl, who was reading one of these passages aloud, paused mid-sentence, looked up at her teacher, and said:

“Mira, este es español de verdad—look, this is real Spanish!”

In that moment, she wasn’t just reading words as part of an assessment—she was proudly claiming her language. She understood the significance of her home language, and the fact that it was just as powerful and valuable as any other.

That moment made us reflect on why this work around biliteracy matters so much. It’s not just about teaching kids to read and write in another language; it’s about helping them to feel pride in their identity and empowering them to own it.

4 key benefits of bilingualism and biliteracy for students

For many children, the journey to bilingualism begins at home. Groundbreaking research by Virginia Collier and Wayne Thomas (2004, 2017) shows that when children maintain their home language while learning English, they tend to outperform their monolingual peers academically over time.

This is so important because it challenges the myth that speaking a language other than English at home slows students’ English development. In fact, it lays the foundation for a stronger linguistic base in both languages. Further, when structured biliteracy programs are in place, they support academic growth in any language—whether it’s English, Spanish, or something else (Escamilla et al., 2014; Bielinski et al., 2025).

With this in mind, let’s explore four important benefits of bilingualism and biliteracy for students.

1. Cognitive benefits: Sharpening the mind

Bilingualism isn’t just about communicating in two languages—it also sharpens the mind. Studies have shown that bilingual individuals develop superior executive functioning skills, including problem-solving, multitasking, and adaptability (Bialystok, 2011; Robson, 2023). These individuals also show increased metalinguistic awareness, meaning they can think critically about how language works and apply that knowledge across disciplines.

Other research reveals that students in well designed biliteracy programs develop cognitive flexibility, creativity, and problem-solving skills that help them excel well beyond the classroom (Spitzer, 2016; Agostini, Apperly, & Krott, 2025; Li & Wei, 2025).

2. Academic advantages: Excelling in literacy and beyond

Children who are biliterate often excel in both literacy classes and in the content areas. Research has consistently shown that exposure to two writing systems and language structures enhances reading comprehension, vocabulary, and even success in math and science (Collier & Thomas, 2017).

When educators recognize the strengths bilingual students bring to the table, these students are more likely to thrive academically and feel seen for who they are. For this reason, Kathy Escamilla has explained that honoring students’ cultural and linguistic identities isn’t just good for them emotionally—it’s essential for their academic growth as well.

We were reminded of this point during a recent interview with a fourth-grade teacher who has a unique perspective on the value of bilingualism and biliteracy. She had been teaching for about eight years and was eager to share her story.

Born in Cuba, she’d struggled through high school after moving to the US, but she worked tirelessly to show her teachers that she knew more than they initially thought. She just could not yet fully express this in English. “I knew what I knew,” she explained, “I just needed to show them that I could do it.”

Fast forward to today, and she’s a bilingual educator, determined to give her students the opportunities she didn’t have as a learner.

“I wonder what my teachers would think if they saw me now, teaching these kids—would they be surprised by how far I’ve come?” she asked. “I didn’t know it back then, but now I know what I didn’t know,” she added, referring to the value of the knowledge and skills that she’d brought to her high school classroom.

Her story is a powerful reminder that we never stop learning, and that embracing the strength of our languages—whether Spanish, English, or another language—empowers us to reach new heights. For her, bilingualism wasn’t just a skill; it was a means of claiming her place in the world and creating a space for her students to thrive in two languages.

3. Social and emotional benefits: Building bridges across cultures

Bilingualism opens more than just cognitive and academic doors—it helps build emotional resilience, empathy, and cultural understanding (Kharkhurin, 2024; Koch, Kersten, & Grieve, 2024). By learning multiple languages, children develop a broader worldview and stronger interpersonal skills. They can connect with diverse communities and bridge cultural divides. This emotional intelligence isn’t just valuable; it’s essential in today’s multicultural world.

4. Economic opportunities: Preparing for a global economy

In today’s global economy, bilingualism can be a major asset. Bilingual employees are highly sought after, and research shows they often earn 10–15 percent higher wages than monolingual workers (Marian, 2023). Whether it’s in business, healthcare, or education, knowing two or more languages gives individuals a unique edge and opens opportunities for career mobility and networking.

Dispelling myths about bilingualism and biliteracy in education

Despite the overwhelming benefits, myths about bilingualism and bilingual education continue to circulate. Some parents and caregivers worry that learning two languages will confuse their child or delay their English proficiency. But long-term studies have shown the opposite. With proper support, bilingual children not only thrive but often excel in both languages (Collier & Thomas, 2004, 2017).

And contrary to the misconception that bilingual programs are only for certain groups, research confirms that any child, regardless of background, can benefit from bilingual education. With the right approach and resources, bilingualism becomes a universal asset (Escamilla et al., 2014).

Fostering bilingualism and biliteracy: Practical tips for parents

How can school and district leaders encourage parents and other caregivers to support children’s journeys toward bilingualism and biliteracy? Following are six strategies that educators at all levels can communicate to families and entire communities where languages other than English are spoken in the home:

1. Celebrate your home language: Use it every day—during meals, in stories, and in cultural traditions.
2. Enroll students in dual language programs: Schools that offer instruction in both the home language and English give children a solid foundation in both.
3. Provide diverse resources: Fill your home with bilingual books, games, and media to make language learning fun.
4. Be consistent: Even small habits—like reading with children in both languages—add up.
5. Model enthusiasm: When you show an interest in languages and culture, your child will be motivated to learn.
6. Partner with educators: Work with your child’s teachers to support biliteracy at home and in school.

A lifelong advantage: Supporting bilingualism and biliteracy

To sum up, bilingualism and biliteracy aren’t just skills—they’re lifelong advantages. They strengthen students’ minds, boost academic performance, nurture empathy, and open up career opportunities. For parents and caregivers, bilingualism is a way to give their children a powerful start in life, one filled with promise, pride, and opportunity.

At Renaissance, we take great pride in supporting dual language and bilingual education programs in schools across the country. We also recognize that educators in these programs need assessments and tools designed authentically for emerging bilingual learners. It’s not enough to provide instruction in two languages. It’s about understanding how literacy in one language can fuel success in the other.

In our next blog, we’ll show you the new Biliteracy report in our Star Assessments—and explain how the work we’re doing around Spanish-English biliteracy trajectories will help educators to best support students’ success in two languages.

References

Agostini, V., Apperly, I., & Krott, A. (2025). Bilingual education enhances creative fluency and flexibility over the first year of primary school. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition 28(3), 728‒739. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1366728924000579

Bialystok, E. (2011). Reshaping the mind: The benefits of bilingualism. Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology, 65(4), 229–235. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4341987/

Bielinski, J., Chávez-Linville, D., Escamilla, K., Hopewell, S., Johnson, C., & Slavick, J. (2025). Biliteracy trajectories: Supporting literacy development in two languages. Renaissance. https://renaissance.widen.net/s/vtlslkjdns/809564-biliteracytrajectories-whitepaper

Collier, V. P., & Thomas, W. P. (2004). The astounding effectiveness of dual language education for all. NABE Journal of Research and Practice, 2(1), 1–20.

Collier, V. P., & Thomas, W. P. (2017). Validating the power of bilingual schooling: Thirty-two years of large-scale, longitudinal research. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 37, 203–217. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0267190517000034

Escamilla, K., Hopewell, S., Butvilofsky, S., Sparrow, W., Soltero-González, L., & Escamilla, M. (2014). Biliteracy from the start: Literacy Squared in action. Philadelphia: Caslon.

Kharkhurin, A. V. (2024). A paradigmatic shift in the relationship between bilingualism and creativity: Plurilingual creativity approach. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition. Published online 2024, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1366728924000919

Koch, M. J., Kersten, K., & Greve, W. (2024). An emotional advantage of multilingualism. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 27(5), 950–963. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1366728923000937

Li, C., & Wei, L. (2025). The enhancement of creativity through foreign language learning: Do personality traits matter? Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 28(2), 510–521. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1366728924000476

Marian, V. (2023). Speaking of psychology: The benefits of being bilingual. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/news/podcasts/speaking-of-psychology/being-bilingual

Robson, D. (2023, Sept. 23). “I couldn’t believe the data:” How thinking in a foreign language improves decision-making. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/sep/17/how-learning-thinking-in-a-foreign-language-improves-decision-making

Spitzer, M. (2016). Bilingual benefits in education and health. Trends in Neuroscience and Education, 5(2), 67‒76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tine.2016.07.004