English as a New Language (ENL) is a program that focuses on English language acquisition and is overseen by the New York State Education Department (NYSED).  Students are identified as potential English Language Learners (ELLs) when their parent or guardian indicates that a language other than English is spoken at home during the enrollment process.  Potential ELLs are then interviewed by qualified personnel to confirm eligibility for the NYSITELL-the diagnositc exam that determines if a student is an ELL and must recieve ENL services. NYSED mandates that ELLs receive between 180 and 360 minutes of service from a certified ENL teacher each week.  This instruction may take place in their core content area classrooms  (Integrated) or in a separate, small-group space (Stand Alone), or some combination thereof.  

In April/May of each school year, ELLs take the NYSESLAT--the summative English aquisition exam that demonstrates their language learning progress.  Their scores on the Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing subtests determine which of the five ENL levels they fall under: Entering, Emerging, Transitioning, Expanding, or Commanding.  Once a student has reached the Commanding level, he or she has completed ENL and is no longer considered an ELL. However, to help with the transition, he or she will still receive supportive services for 90 minutes each week and will continue to be entitled to testing modifications for an additional two years. 

 FAQ

What is an English Language Learner?

An English Language Learner, or ELL, is a student whose native language is not English and needs support learning English.

Who is Entitled to ENL Services?

All parents and guardians of newly enrolled students must complete a Home Language     Identification Survey to let school staff know which language your child speaks at home.     If your responses show that your child speaks a language other than English at home,   the school may give your child the NYSITELL. 

The NYSITELL exam measures your child’s knowledge of English and shows whether your child needs support programs and services. If the test shows that your child needs support learning English, your child will be identified as an English language learner.

For more information on the NYSITELL Examination, please click the preceding link or the button below:

How Will I Know How My Child is Performing in a Program?

The results of the NYSESLAT allow students, teachers, and parents to understand each student’s strengths and areas that need improvement, such as speaking, reading, and writing. In addition, the results are used to determine if your child will continue to be identified as an English Language Learner in the next school year.

For more information on the NYSESLAT Examination, please click the link.

 Parent Involvement:

• Ensure that your child promptly attends their in-person or remote learning schedule every day, ready to learn.

• Ensure that your child reads and completes their assignments daily.

• Attend all parent-teacher conferences (virtually and/or in person) and annual English Language Learners parent meetings.

• Attend virtual and/or in-person parent-workshops and conferences that are specially designed to assist you in helping your child.

• Create a supportive home environment for learning and studying.

• Read and speak with your child in your home language every day and encourage them to read daily. A strong foundation in their home language will assist in their English Language Acquisition. Research has shown that the more proficient a student is in speaking their native language, the better they will perform learning a second language 

• Reach out to your child's ENL teacher and classroom teachers for ways to support your child at home

Common Useful Acronyms and Terms:

• ELL: English Language Learner

• BICS: Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills

• CALP: Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency

• Bilingual Instruction: Provision of instruction in school settings through the medium of two languages, usually a native and a second language.

• Home Language: Language(s) spoken in the student’s home by significant others (e.g., family members, caregivers) who reside there.

• Language Proficiency: The level of competence at which an individual is able to use language for both basic communicative tasks and academic purposes.