A number of different program components will combine to provide a program that meets the needs of all identified EL students in the district. Components will range from placement of the EL student in the regular education classroom with various Sheltered English and Scaffolding strategies implemented by the classroom teacher to regular withdrawal from the classroom for intensive English language instruction provided by certified English Learner teacher. The design of the program will be flexible each year according to the numbers and levels of students enrolled at each building in the district.

English Learner Instruction

This instruction will take place both within and outside the regular classroom and will provide instruction using English as the main language of delivery. Specialized EL methodology will be utilized by a certified EL teacher to assist students with English skills including listening, speaking, reading, writing, comprehension, study skills, vocabulary and cultural orientation. EL students will be clustered, 5-7 students according to primary language spoken and language acquisition level, in regular classrooms with American peers. Clustering is used to support student achievement through more collaboration between EL teachers and general ed. teachers, opportunities for more EL specific professional development, and a more inclusive environment for students of similar cultures and languages. Withdrawal from the regular classroom at the elementary and intermediate school levels will be temporary and flexible according to the language and academic needs of the student. At the secondary level, students may be enrolled in an EL credit course for a trimester or more if their language acquisition level requires such service. Sheltered content courses may be available with the EL teacher and a regular classroom teacher who meets the NCLB standards for being highly qualified for that particular credit course.

Regular Classroom Accommodations

When EL students are participating in a regular classroom setting, the teacher will be encouraged to utilize various recommended accommodations and modifications necessary to meet the needs of the individual EL student. Teachers will use strategies that provide visual clues for content and specialized vocabulary development with use of graphic organizers, charts, word walls, labeling, illustrations and other methods that reduce the amount of text a student must use to achieve understanding of content. The certified EL teacher will be a resource for ideas and strategies for modifications and accommodations in the regular classroom. The use of a Sheltered English approach will be utilized by regular classroom teachers and specialized teachers to make academic instruction in English comprehensible to EL students. This approach plus other scaffold building techniques will be utilized as modifications in both the regular classroom and in special ESL activity.

The design and implementation of program components will remain fluid as to be able to meet the needs of the ever changing population of EL students. The following characteristics will continue as part of the program no matter what the particular components or delivery systems are:

Curriculum that:  

Instruction that: