Encouraging Portuguese Language Instruction in Los Angeles
In a groundbreaking move, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has signed its first-ever Portuguese language agreement with the government of Portugal. This significant milestone, marked on July 9, 2025, represents the first Portuguese language agreement between LAUSD and a third-country government [1].
The agreement, a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), is aimed at introducing and supporting Portuguese language education across LAUSD public schools. This endeavour is the culmination of over three years of diplomatic and educational collaboration between LAUSD, the Camões Institute, Portuguese authorities, and the Consulate General of Portugal in San Francisco [1][2].
Portuguese has now been officially integrated into LAUSD’s "World Languages & Cultures" curriculum, joining other languages such as Spanish, French, Japanese, Arabic, and American Sign Language [1]. The agreement will bring Portuguese language programs to multiple public schools throughout LAUSD, the largest school district in California, aligning with the district's global and multilingual education vision [1].
The partnership aims to enrich cultural and linguistic diversity within the district, giving students access to one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, spoken across four continents. LAUSD Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho emphasised Portuguese as a "bridge to multiple cultures," underscoring its value for preparing students for a globalized world [1].
This agreement contributes to LAUSD’s broader multilingual strategy to equip students with global communication skills and celebrates the rich cultural heritage of its diverse student body. The agreement aligns with existing district goals on multiculturalism and multilingual education, expanding world language offerings [1].
The memorandum reinforces the presence of Portuguese as a global language in LAUSD's educational offerings. The Camões - Institute of Cooperation and Language, I.P., will work to raise awareness of the cooperation agreement with students, teachers, and the Portuguese-American community in California. The agreement was signed at LAUSD, the second-largest school district in the United States and the largest in California [1].
The agreement covers the period up to the end of the 2028/2029 school year and lays the foundation for strengthened cooperation between the two institutions over the next five years. The agreement aims to expand and strengthen the promotion of the Portuguese language and culture in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, marking a first for LAUSD with a government agency from a third state [1].
The signing of the memorandum signifies significant progress in the certification of Portuguese teachers in California, as California, with the largest population of people of Portuguese origin in the US, has faced obstacles in language teaching. The agreement was announced with a written statement from the consulate and aims to increase the number of Portuguese language offerings in LAUSD's schools [1].
This strategic partnership between Portugal and LAUSD, one of the most important educational institutions in the United States, is a testament to the growing importance of multilingualism and global competency education in one of the nation’s largest and most diverse school districts.
[1] LAUSD News Release, July 9, 2025. [2] Consulate General of Portugal in San Francisco, Press Release, July 9, 2025.
- As a result of the partnership, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) will be implementing Portuguese language education in its curriculum, making it accessible to students alongside other languages such as Spanish, French, Japanese, Arabic, and American Sign Language.
- The collaboration between LAUSD and Portuguese authorities is not only intended to introduce Portuguese language programs but also to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the students and enrich the district's linguistic diversity, aligning with their vision of global and multilingual education.
