IHBEA

File: IHBEA

ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS POLICY

INTRODUCTION

Following federal and state law, the District takes appropriate steps to identify ELLs so they can receive instruction that is designed to assist them in learning the English language and subject matter content. Parents participate in the decision making process relative to the type of program identified ELLs will receive. When a student enrolls, the district follows the appropriate procedures outlined below to identify and place ELLs in appropriate instructional programs to support content area and language learning (603 CMR 14.02)

Step 1: Administer the Home Language Survey (translated when applicable) to all newly enrolling students.

Step 2:Assess the English proficiency of a student when the answer to any of the questions on the Home Language Survey is a language other than English. (A screening test is not necessary for students who come from another Massachusetts district or another WIDA state with ACCESS results if the test was administered within the last calendar year.)

Step 3:Determine whether the student is an ELL using screening test results and make initial placement decisions.

Step 4:Notify parent and/or legal guardian of language screening assessment results and initial placement. Inform parent of the right to "opt-out" or to secure an SEI Program Waiver in a language the parent can understand, to the extent practicable.

Step 5:Code the student determined to be an ELL in all future SIMS reports submitted to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Identified ELL students shall be assessed annually to measure their proficiency in reading, writing, listening and speaking English, as well as the progress they are making in learning English.

Requirements for Teachers in English Language Classrooms:

The District will require that all teachers in English language classrooms, as well as Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) classrooms, are literate and fluent in English, as well as properly trained and certified.

Section 2 of 71A requires those who teach in English language classrooms to be “Fluent and literate in English”. Under Chapter 71A, English language classrooms encompass both Sheltered English Immersion classrooms and English language mainstream classrooms. Teachers who possess a Massachusetts teaching license fulfill Chapter 71A’s requirement for fluency in English.

Sheltered content instruction is a required component of Sheltered English Immersion (SEI). Teachers of elementary and secondary content, who have English Language Learner (ELL) students in their classrooms, must be qualified to shelter content instruction. To be qualified, teachers must be licensed in the content area they teach, in addition to having the state mandated SEI Endorsement.

English as a Second Language (ESL) is also a required component of Sheltered English Immersion (SEI). ESL instruction will be delivered by a licensed ESL teacher.

Reclassification:

Reclassification refers to the exiting of an English Language Learner (ELL) student from the sheltered English immersion program, which results in the student’s reclassification from ELL status to not ELL status, i.e. Former English Learner (FEL). The District annually assesses ELL's language and academic proficiency to determine whether students are able to do regular school work in English, and to remove the English Learner classification once ELLs demonstrate the ability to do regular school work in English (G.L. c.71A).

Reclassification decisions will generally be made each year in early June (following the release of ACCESS scores) by the Reclassification Team at each level.

The Reclassification Teams will consist of the following:

Kindergarten – ESL Teacher and classroom teachers

Grades 1 – 5 – Sheltered English Immersion teachers, building principal, ESL teachers

Middle School – All ESL and sheltered English immersion teachers

High School – All ESL and sheltered English immersion teachers

Reclassification Team Meetings

School-based teams will review the annual ACCESS for ELLs results when making placement or reclassification decisions for ELLs. Reclassification Team meetings will be held to discuss any student obtaining ACCESS scores that are a level 5.0 or above in all 4 language domains (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing) with an Overall score of 5.0 or above. School-based teams will also consider other relevant data including district assessment data and teacher recommendations to finalize decisions for reclassification for the following school year. The team will complete a Reclassification Team Meeting Form (File: IBEA-E2) for each student. A copy of each form must be placed in each student’s ELL folder and sent to the ELL Director following the reclassification meeting.

  • If it is determined that the student will remain an ELL student, the team will make a recommendation for the student’s English instructional program for the upcoming year.
  • If it is determined that the student will be reclassified from ELL status to FEL status, the student will exit from the English language program and the exit date will be marked on the student’s blue ELL folder.
    • The ELL Director will notify the parents in writing of any student who is reclassified.

Monitoring Former English Learners (FEL) Students

All Reclassified students will be monitored for four years and provided support if needed to progress.

West Springfield will monitor all FEL students bi-annually (December and May). The monitoring procedure will include regular structured meetings between the ESL teacher and content teachers to discuss students' academic progress. In addition:

  • Each year, in December and May, elementary and secondary monitoring forms (IBEA-E1) will be sent out to the teachers of all FEL students
    • At the elementary level, the ELL Director will be responsible for the distribution and collection of the forms.
    • At the middle and high schools, the ELL Director will be responsible for the distribution and collection of the forms.
  • Completed monitoring forms will be returned to the ELL Director within one week following receipt.
  • If a student fails to make academic progress after being monitored for at least 2 reporting cycles:
    • A school-based team (teacher, ELL teacher, guidance or adjustment counselor) familiar with the student will meet and determine if the failure is due to lack of English proficiency. If such a determination is made, the student will be re-designated as an ELL student and be educated in accordance to G.L. c. 71A and will immediately be provided with the services and options required under state and federal law, including educating the student in sheltered English immersion classrooms. Documentation of the meeting will be placed in the student’s ELL folder. (Reclassification Team Meeting Form File: IHBEA-E2)

Revised: January 20, 2016 (per ELL Director)

Read, reviewed & approved: November 2, 2016 (Policy Subcommittee)

Read (revisions only) & approved: November 15, 2016