In an era defined by globalization, innovation, and cultural exchange, bilingualism and multilingualism are no longer “nice to have” skills; they are national imperatives.
Dr. Edgar Lampkin
CEO, California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE)
Dr. Bárbara Flores
Professor Emerita, California State University, San Bernardino, Director of Financial Affairs, CABE Board of Directors
The future competitiveness of the United States depends on its ability to prepare students who can think, communicate, and lead across languages and cultures. At the center of this preparation is bilingual education and the extraordinary power of biliteracy, a mission that the California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE) supports, advocates for, and believes is essential in 21st-century education.
The science of bilingual brains
Decades of research confirm that bilingualism strengthens the brain. Studies from neuroscience and cognitive psychology show that bilingual and multilingual individuals develop enhanced executive functioning, including stronger attention control, problem-solving abilities, abstract thinking, and cognitive flexibility. Because bilingual brains constantly manage and switch between languages, they build what researchers call a more efficient “cognitive control system.” This mental agility is associated with improved academic outcomes, greater creativity, and stronger decision-making skills for all learners. Additionally, research has found that bilingualism can delay the onset of age-related cognitive decline, including dementia, by several years — evidence that bilingual education is an investment with lifelong benefits.
Economic capital for a global workforce
The advantages extend beyond cognition. Economically, bilingual and multilingual individuals have greater access to employment opportunities and higher earning potential, particularly in sectors like business, healthcare, education, diplomacy, technology, and international trade. Employers consistently rank multilingual skills among the most desirable competencies in a global workforce. Simply put, bilingualism and multilingualism are economic capital.
California’s unique advantage
Nowhere is bilingual and multilingual education more urgent than in California. As the fourth-largest economy in the world, California is deeply embedded in global markets and international relationships. To sustain this position, the state must cultivate a multilingual workforce capable of engaging with partners across continents. Ensuring that all students have access to high-quality bilingual education is not merely an educational choice; it is a strategic economic necessity for all of our students, particularly in our monolingual English-only society.
California also holds a unique and powerful advantage: its people. Millions of students and families bring rich cultural and linguistic assets into our schools every day. These assets — home languages, cultural knowledge, and global perspectives — represent the new Gold Standard of the 21st century. When nurtured through bilingual and multilingual education, they become sources of intellectual enrichment, cultural proficiency, and social cohesion. Research consistently shows that students who develop literacy in both their home language and English perform as well as, or better than, their monolingual peers academically over time.
Bilingual education affirms identity, builds cross-cultural understanding, and prepares all students to thrive in a multilingual world. If the nation — and California in particular — seeks long-term global competitiveness, educational equity, and economic resilience, then biliteracy and multilingualism must be the standard, not the exception. Investing in developing bilingual and multilingual brains means investing in our collective future, both socially and economically.
