The network, comprised of seven regional sites, offers professional development programs that support the teaching of language and cultures at every level by deepening language educators' understanding of the guiding principles espoused in the World Language Content Standard, the California Common Core Literacy Standards for Technical Subject and the English Language Development Standards. Such programs include standards and framework-aligned institutes, seminars and professional development workshop series that are especially designed to support teachers to strengthen the overall communication skills of students while enhancing their understanding of other cultures. Assistance is also provided in the effective use of state-adopted instructional materials as well as culturally authentic resources with students.

This collaborative network is dedicated to providing the highest quality World Language instruction to all of California's students, with a special focus on meeting the needs of English learners (as articulated through the Common Core State Standards), native speakers with low literacy skills, and students from economically disadvantaged communities. Headquartered at Stanford University, CWLP belongs to a larger network of discipline-specific programs known as the California Subject Matter Project, administered by the University of California, Office of the President.