TORSH and Rutgers Launch National SESEBA Initiative to Strengthen Instruction for English Learners with AI-Enhanced Support

A New Era of Scalable, Research-Based Support for Dual Language Learners

TORSH, a leader in educator coaching and professional learning platforms, has announced a strategic partnership  with the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) at Rutgers to deliver the SESEBA  framework at scale to school systems and early childhood education organizations across the country. The  partnership brings NIEER’s Self-Evaluation of Supports for Emergent Bilingual Acquisition (SESEBA), a  research-based framework for improving instruction for Dual Language Learners (DLLs), into TORSH Talent, the  company’s flagship coaching platform, along with a new suite of professional development offerings aligned to the  SESEBA approach. 

Meeting the Moment in Education

As school systems across the country face intensifying pressure to cut costs and justify spending, support for English  Learners is often among the first to be reduced. Budget constraints, teacher shortages, and politicized debates  around language equity have created a climate where leaders must do more with less, without compromising student  outcomes. At the same time, the demand for measurable growth in literacy and language development continues to rise. 

SESEBA answers that need with a clear, research-driven roadmap for improving instruction for Dual Language  Learners. By equipping educators with concrete strategies and school leaders with actionable data, the framework  helps elevate both equity and efficiency. Districts and organizations don’t need to launch new programs or hire  additional staff to get started- they can use SESEBA to strengthen the impact of the staff already in place.  

This approach resonates across the political spectrum. For some, it reinforces the importance of ensuring English  Learners gain the language proficiency needed for academic success and long-term integration. For others, it affirms  the value of honoring students’ cultural and linguistic backgrounds while accelerating learning. In either case,  SESEBA offers something rare: a scalable model that improves teaching quality, supports accountability, and protects  vulnerable students without creating new costs or political liabilities. 

Supporting Language Development and Academic Achievement  

Designed by bilingual education experts at NIEER, SESEBA helps educators evaluate and strengthen their  instructional practices to better serve DLLs. It is a classroom-based, continuous improvement framework that  includes observation rubrics, self-reflection tools, and coaching supports tailored to the needs of Dual Language  Learners. TORSH will now offer SESEBA Premium licenses through its flagship platform, TORSH Talent, providing  school systems and early childhood organizations with interactive rubrics, embedded coaching supports, and new  SESEBA-aligned workshops.  

We know that when educators are equipped with the right tools and training, Dual Language Learners thrive,  both in English proficiency and academic achievement.

Alexandra Figueras-Daniel, Ph.D, Assistant  Research Professor at Rutgers and one of the creators of SESEBA

Expanding Impact: AI-Powered Coaching for DLL Instruction

As part of TORSH Talent’s growing suite of AI-enabled tools, SESEBA Premium users will also benefit from intelligent  coaching supports that help scale expert guidance. TORSH’s AI capabilities analyze educator reflections and  observational data to offer real-time prompts, strategy suggestions, and feedback frameworks aligned to the SESEBA  rubric, bridging the gap between high-tech and high-touch professional learning. TORSH’s digital infrastructure  makes it possible to scale SESEBA across entire systems, while NIEER’s research foundation ensures that every  tool and training is grounded in proven practices. This helps educators implement SESEBA-aligned practices with  greater consistency, even in classrooms where bilingual staff are not available. For organization leaders, AI tools  extend the reach of existing staff, reduce PD delivery costs, and provide new insights into teacher growth over time.  

The TORSH-Rutgers collaboration includes: 

• SESEBA Premium Integration: A digital version of the SESEBA rubric built into TORSH Talent for scalable,  reflective practice.  
• SESEBA-Aligned Professional Development: Live and virtual workshops facilitated by Dr. Figueras-Daniel  and expert practitioners, designed to introduce and apply the SESEBA framework.  
• Train-the-Trainer Pathways: Helping organizations build internal PD capacity for sustainable implementation. 
  
  

This announcement is especially timely as it coincides with National Bilingual Child Month, a celebration of the linguistic strengths and cultural assets of Dual Language Learners across the country. To learn more or request a demo, visit www.torsh.co or contact info@torsh.co.  

About TORSH

TORSH is a leading provider of educator coaching and professional learning technology. Its flagship platform,  TORSH Talent, empowers schools, districts, and early childhood organizations to deliver high-quality, evidence-based  support to educators through video observation, feedback, goal tracking, and data analytics. TORSH partners with  education systems across the country to improve instructional quality, strengthen educator retention, and drive  measurable student outcomes — especially in high-need and high-impact contexts. TORSH is proudly headquartered  in New Orleans, Louisiana.

About Rutgers University & NIEER  

Rutgers University–New Brunswick is a leading national research university and a flagship of the State University of  New Jersey system. The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) at Rutgers Graduate School of School conducts and  communicates rigorous research to support high-quality, equitable early education for all children. NIEER’s research  has informed public policy and practice at the state, national, and international levels. The institute is especially  recognized for its leadership in preschool research, bilingual education, and the development of tools and frameworks  that translate early learning science into classroom impact.

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