The English Learners’ (EL) Program is an instructional support service available to non-English speaking students or to students who speak some English but have a language other than English spoken at home.

Program Goals

• Increase the language proficiency of English language learners.
• Increase academic achievement of English language learners.
• Promote parental and community participation in the Muscatine Community School District’s EL programs.

Identification

Referral to the EL program begins by completion of the Home Language Survey.  Students for whom English is not their first language will be tested using the TELPA and/or Iowa-Education Language Development Assessment (IELDA).  Students who score as non-English or limited- English proficient qualify for services.  Parents will be notified of placement in the EL program.

Services

The Muscatine Community School District offers a variety of program options to meet the English language learners’ educational needs.

These include

• EL self-contained classes
• EL instruction in the regular classroom
• EL push-in instruction
• Paraeducator support in EL and regular classrooms
• Daily small group instruction in the EL classroom

Other Information

The Muscatine Community School District EL Program serves approximately 400 kindergarten through twelfth grade students.  The program is staffed by 14 teachers and 9 Paraeducators.  Throughout the year, EL teachers meet monthly following a set agenda.  The time is used for educational training as well as for networking purposes among the buildings and grade levels.  Staff development opportunities are available for the EL staff through conference attendance and workshops.  The EL teachers work with the general education teachers, presenting information and strategies to boost academic achievement of EL students.

MCSD Lau Plan 2018-19

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