English Learners Program

The goal of the Pamlico County’s English as a Second Language Program is to provide equal educational opportunities to students who have a primary home language other than English and who are identified as English Learners (ELs). Our objectives are:

To identify all students whose second language skills qualify them as English Learners (EL).
To provide instruction to all students who do not fluently understand, speak, read, and/or write English.
To develop the skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing needed to successfully understand and use the English language.
To provide an opportunity for multilingual students to function comparably with their English speaking classmates with the appropriate level of assistance and support.
To support the curriculum and instruction of the regular classroom as appropriate to the language acquisition stages of the student.
To provide special services to English Learners through English as a Second Language classes, ESL pull-out classes, sheltered classes, and regular education with modification, tutorial, or transitory services.
To provide staff development on ESL instructional best practices woven around the English Language Development (ELD) Standards in collaboration with the State of North Carolina and WIDA Consortium for principals, guidance counselors, teachers, and other school and district personnel, as needed on the language and cultural needs of multilingual students.
To communicate instructional goals and expectations to parents and encourage them to support their children’s progress and participate in their educational experience.
To exit students from the program when their language abilities are educationally appropriate for the mainstream classroom.
To monitor students after exiting the program for up to 4 years, offering assistance to classroom instructors on English Learner best practices, resources, and ESL teacher assistance.

Language Instruction Educational Program (LIEP) Services

LEA/Charter Name: Pamlico County Schools LEA/ Charter Number: 690 Submission Date: 11/15/2019

Contact Name: Nancy Ross Email: [email protected] Phone: 252.745.4171

CONTEXT

Pamlico County Schools is a very small rural school district (enrollment ~1300) with only 1-2 % (23 as of Oct.1 Headcount) of the population identified as English learners. Our four schools are centrally located in the county, which allows our staff to travel school to school within minutes. We have one ESL teacher who is itinerant across all 4 schools, serving 3-10 students at each school on a rotating schedule.

CRITERIA - Students should meet most of the criteria under each type of language service.
Comprehensive Language Services	Supportive Language Services	Transitional Language Services
K W-APT score of 14 or below. 1-12 Wida Screener/ACCESS score: Overall Composite 1.0-2.0 Reading &/0r Writing 1.0-2.0 Listening &/or Speaking 1.0-3.0 <2 years in US Schools Not proficient on EOGs/EOCs Needs language support to participate in content classes Students w/ Interrupted Formal Education (SIFE)	K W-APT score of 15-21. 1-12 Wida Screener/ACCESS score: Overall Composite 2.0-4.0 Reading &/0r Writing 2.0-4.0 Listening &/or Speaking 2.0-4.0 >2 years in US schools Not proficient on EOGs/EOCs Struggles to manage academics	K W-APT score of 22-26. 1-12 Wida Screener/ACCESS score: Overall Composite 4.0-4.8 Reading &/0r Writing 4.0-5.6 Listening &/or Speaking 4.0-6.0 Years in US schools varies May be proficient on EOGs/EOCs Manages class content well
Services for dually identified students (EC/EL OR AIG/EL) will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
SERVICES: Elementary School
Comprehensive Language Services	Supportive Language Services	Transitional Language Services
Pull out services 2-5 days a week/30 minutes per session. Content teachers are SIOP trained and use appropriate instructional modifications. Language translators provided as needed.	SIOP trained content teachers provide appropriate instructional modifications. Pull out services or classroom visits by the ESL teacher targeting skill set deficiencies in consult with content teachers.	EL support as needed for teachers and students to meet specific language needs. Appropriate instructional modifications in place.

SERVICES: Middle School

Comprehensive Language Services

Supportive Language Services

Transitional Language Services

Pull out services 2-5 days a week/30 minutes per session. Content teachers are SIOP trained and use appropriate instructional modifications. Language translators provided as needed.

SIOP trained content teachers provide appropriate instructional modifications. Pull out services or classroom visits by the EL teacher targeting skill set deficiencies in consult with content teachers.

EL support as needed for teachers and students to meet specific language needs. Appropriate instructional modifications in place.

SERVICES: High School
Comprehensive Language Services		Supportive Language Services	Transitional Language Services
Pull out services 2-5 days a week/30 minutes per session. Content teachers are SIOP trained and use appropriate instructional modifications. Language translators provided as needed.	SIOP trained content teachers provide appropriate instructional modifications. Pull out services or classroom visits by the EL teacher targeting skill set deficiencies in consult with content teachers.			EL support as needed for teachers and students to meet specific language needs. Appropriate instructional modifications in place.

English Language Development Standards

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZvwOwOrgWQLdg2dFExCYX3YAfpJ5Z7m7/view

Parent Notification of Initial Eligibility for English as a Second Languages (ESL) Program

Date:

Student Name:

School: Grade:

Dear Parent/Guardian:

Based on your responses to the Home Language Survey you completed during registration, your child was screened for English language proficiency on (date) using the WIDA Screener for Kindergarten / WIDA Grades 1-12 Screener. Your child scored below proficient on this screening test which indicates that they would benefit from English language instruction and support during the school day.

The program helps students improve their English skills so that they will be more successful in an English-only classroom environment. Your child’s English language proficiency will be assessed each year to determine if he or she continues to qualify for the ESL language program.

As a parent or guardian, you have the right to waive direct language instruction support for your student. If you are interested in discussing this option or would like additional information about the program, please contact Nancy Ross, (252) 745-4171, [email protected]. We look forward to helping your child develop academic English language proficiency.

	Yes, I approve of this placement for my child.
	No, I would like to decline this placement for my child and will contact the school to discuss the options available for my child’s English language development. I understand that my child will be tested annually on a state-approved assessment until he/she attains English proficiency.

Parent/Guardian Signature: ____________________________________ Date: ____________

Notification of English Language Program Continuation

Student:

School: Grade:

Our school district provides a language instruction educational program for English learners to attain English proficiency and meet the same challenging academic content and student achievement standards expected of all students. According to state and federal law, our school district is required to annually assess the English language proficiency of your child in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Based on the results of the ACCESS for ELLs, a state-approved assessment for measuring English language proficiency, your child continues to be eligible for services for English Language Learners. A copy of your child’s results on the ACCESS for ELLs is attached.

The ACCESS for ELLs test results are ranked into the following categories

1

2

3

4

5

6

Entering

Knows and uses minimal social language and minimal academic language with visual support

Emerging

Knows and uses some social English and general academic language with visual support

Developing

Knows and uses social English and some specific academic language with visual support

Expanding

Knows and uses social English and some technical academic language

Bridging

Knows and uses social and academic language working with grade level material

Reaching

Knows and uses social and academic language at the highest level measured by this test

Teachers of English Language Learners provide a variety of specialized services until students demonstrate skills in English sufficient for them to succeed academically in the regular classroom. Based on your child’s needs determined by examining scores on the access test, your child will be scheduled for direct instruction with our English as a Second Language instructor or will be provided support within the regular classroom.

Your child’s English language development will be assessed annually until they meet specific academic achievement requirements. North Carolina’s Exit criteria is 4.8 or higher on the ACCESS for ELLs annual English language proficiency test.

Students who exit the program are monitored for academic success for 4 years.

All children, regardless of English proficiency, are eligible to participate in all school-wide programs. If your child has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), or a 504 plan, the language instruction educational program will be utilized in coordination with your child’s existing plan.

Throughout the school year, you will have many opportunities to learn about your child’s progress in academics and in learning English. I encourage you to attend parent-teacher conferences (these are meetings the teacher sets up to give you information about how your child is doing in school and it is a time for you to ask questions) and school events to support your child’s academic success.

	Yes, I approve of this placement for my child.
	No, I would like to decline this placement for my child and will contact the school to discuss the options available for my child’s English language development. I understand that my child will be tested annually on a state-approved ELP assessment until they attain English proficiency.

Parent/Guardian Signature: __________________________________ Date: ______________

If you have any questions regarding the English Language Development program, please contact Nancy Ross, (252) 745-4171, or [email protected].