ELL

• English Language Learner (ELL) students are welcome in the High School at AISJ. Students will be assessed using the WIDA test. This is an English Language Proficiency Standard for English Language Learners. The results of the WIDA test determine students’ English level and allow them to be placed in courses that will best support their learning. It serves as a guideline for placement along with other considerations. Final decisions for class placement are made on a case-by-case basis in collaboration with the teachers of the student.

• Students with WIDA scores between 2.0 and 5.0 are typically placed in both the ELL Support class and the Language Acquisition class. (see the course descriptions in section 2).

• The aim of the English language acquisition class is for students to learn the language of English and to support them on a language pathway that will allow them to access any of the high school pathways (IBDP English B at either a Higher or Standard level, HSP English, IBDP English A at a Standard level) depending on their progress.

• The aim of the ELL Support class is to develop academic English skills in their subject area classes. Students with WIDA scores between 5.0 and 5.5 are typically enrolled in the ELL Support Class only.

• Students applying for grade 9 must have at least a 2.0 on the WIDA, and students applying for Grade 10 must have at least a 3.5 on the WIDA to be considered.

• Decisions to exit the English Language Acquisition class and/or ELL support are made based on teacher input, class performance, and the WIDA results.

SSST

• ELL students are encouraged to study their mother tongue language as a School Supported Self-Taught (SSST) course. An SSST course requires families to locate and pay for an external tutor. The AISJ SSST Coordinator can assist families in locating a suitable tutor and will liaise with this tutor to facilitate the students learning from entry into the High School in Grade 9.

*Students not taking an SSST may select an elective instead.