ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION

The English Learner Education Program (ELE) serves multilingual students whose first language is other than English. A student classified as an English Learner (EL) receives English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction by a licensed EL teacher. Students are grouped and guided in a systematic, dedicated, and sustained manner to develop English language proficiency.

Instruction is guided by the WIDA Language Standards as well as the Common Core standards and State Frameworks 

ESL develops students' academic language practices of WIDA’s Key Uses; argue, inform, explain and narrate. Students learn the language structures of arguing with evidence, justifying conclusions, expressing cause-effect relationships, describing reasoning, making predictions and negotiating for meaning. This happens at the students' varying level of language proficiency using grade level materials and texts. 

The program is two-fold as the EL classroom provides direct instruction in English using WIDA and State content standards, and content teachers support the students' English development in the Sheltered Content Instruction (SCI) classrooms.

The curriculum is rigorous, with aligned instruction that promotes the cultural and linguistic skills EL students bring with them to American schools. The program  guides students toward opportunities for college, career, and civic readiness with the purpose of  building individual and community agency.