English Learners Overview

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    Attalla City ELs

     

    English Learners (ELs) in

    Attalla City Schools

     

    How ELs are identified

    The first step in placement is the Home Language Survey, completed at registration.

    If English is the second language of the student or if the student communicates at home primarily in a different language, the student is given the WIDA ACCESS Placement Test to determine eligibility.  This test measures a student’s proficiency level in speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

    Students who are eligible for the ESL program (Title III) are assigned an ELP Level 1-5 based on results of their language proficiency assessment. 

    The language progress of students is measured in the spring of each year with the WIDA ACCESS test. 

    4.8 is the exit score on the ACCESS. Students who exit from the EL program are monitored for two years.

     

    What languages do ELs in ACS speak?

    For the school year 2019-2020 we have the following languages.  They are Norwegian,  Spanish.

     ACCESS for ELs

    ACCESS for ELs (Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners) is a secure large-scale English Language Proficiency Assessment given to Kindergarten through 12th graders who have been identified as English Learners (ELs). It is given annually in WIDA consortium member states to monitor students’ progress in acquiring academic English. Students must achieve a score of 4.8 to exit ESL.

    Attalla City EL Program

    English as a Second Language

    Content teachers provide instruction that simultaneously introduces both language and content, using specialized techniques to accommodate ELs’ linguistic needs. Instruction focuses on the teaching of academic content rather than the English language itself, even though the acquisition of English may be one of the instructional goals.

     What are Sheltered Instruction Strategies

     Instructional strategies used in combination with an accommodated curriculum and materials in order to provide meaningful content area instruction

    Why? – To make lessons comprehensible for any student regardless of language proficiency level.

     Effective teachers use these strategies daily.

    These strategies will help ALL students.

     Pull Out Services for Lower Level ELs based on individual needs

    Instructional Program

    The program for English language learners is designed to assist them in learning English as well as meeting state content standards. Curriculum follows grade level standards and the language proficiency ELP standards of World Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) Consortium. Instruction is adapted to the student’s ELP to assist in meeting the state academic content and achievement standards that all students are expected to meet.

    ELP standards of World Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) Consortium.

    Standard 1: English language learners communicate for social and instructional purposes.
    Standard 2: English language learners communicate for academic success in the content area of Language Arts.
    Standard 3: English language learners communicate for academic success in the content area of Mathematics.
    Standard 4: English language learners communicate for academic success in the content area of Science.
    Standard 5: English language learners communicate for academic success in the content area of Social Studies.