FAQ's about the ESOL Program and ELL Students
What is ESOL?
English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) is a state funded instructional program for eligible English Language Learners (ELLs) in grades K-12.
Who is an English Language Learner (ELL)?
Someone who:
* was not born in the USA and whose native language is not English OR
*comes from a home where a language other than English is spoken exclusively OR
*for the reasons above, has difficulty using English in school to the extent that he/she is unable to learn successfully where English is the only language of instruction
How does a student in our school qualify for ESOL?
*First, the student’s parent/guardian must list a language other than English on the home language survey when registering their child.
*Those students are then given an assessment called the “W-APT” which stands for “WIDA-ACCESS Placement Test.” Each student is assessed individually in the areas of listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
*His/her score is calculated and if the student meets the criteria, he/she is eligible for ESOL instruction.
Do parents have to consent to their child being served in our ESOL program?
Yes, a “Notification of Services” form is sent home and the parent must indicate that they wish for their child to be served. If the parent marks “no,” a waiver is sent home where the parent is asked how he/she plans to help their child become proficient in English.
How long is a student served in our program each day?
Students in grades K-3 are served 45 minutes daily and students in grades 4-5 are served 50 minutes daily. During that time, I will reinforce listening, speaking, reading, and writing concepts covered in your class.
Are there GPS for our ESOL program?
No, however, I will follow the GPS for your grade level as well as the ELPS (English Language Proficiency Standards). The ELPS are related to the four domains: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. For more info. on the ELPS, please visit www.wida.us.
How does a student in grades 1-8 exit the ESOL program?
The students are given the ACCESS (Accessing Comprehension and Communication in English State to State for English Language Learners) test beginning in January and must score a 5.0 on a Tier C in grades 1-8 in order to exit the program. They are tested in the four domains and questions are answered in all content areas. The student must also pass the reading portion of the CRCT.
What about Kindergarten students?
*The classroom teacher and I will look at the student’s score as well as other assessments to determine if the student is ready to exit. Extreme caution is used with exiting Kindergarten students.
What is a LAC? When is it used?
A LAC is a Language Assessment Conference Record. A LAC should be used when a student achieves a borderline score on the W-APT, our screener for eligibility. OR
A LAC is also be used when an ELL student has scored at or above a 5.0 on a Tier C ACCESS test, but did not pass the reading CRCT or scored between a 4.0 and 4.9 on a Tier C ACCESS test and did pass the reading CRCT.
*The LAC determines if the student has the necessary language skills to function in the regular classroom or if the student’s actual ability level could be best addressed in the regular classroom or by other special programs (i.e. EIP, Special Ed.)
*The LAC may also consider if the student’s CRCT scores are consistent with the student’s classroom functioning on a regular basis.
Can an ESOL student also be served in other programs?
Yes, an ESOL student can be served in any programs for which they qualify, including: REACH, Speech, EIP, Special Ed. They cannot be served in programs paid for with Title I funds.
What is a “monitored student?”
A "monitored student" is a child who exited the program based on the qualifications listed above. These children are monitored for two years after the exit date. A form will be completed by the classroom teacher every 9 weeks to update the ESOL teacher on the student’s performance in class. Of course if you have concerns before then, PLEASE let me know.
