Intake
First Steps With a New Student
A new student arrives in your school or district who speaks very little English, what do you do?
Steps include:
Completing an intake form to gather and validate documentation, as well as collecting registration background information
Welcoming and orientating students and families
Decide on the best placement for the student
Inform the school and the parents
Reception Centres
Edmonton Catholic Schools (One World...One Centre!) has a welcome centre where an intake worker meets with the family and the child. It takes approximately 2 hours to complete the process. The child is scheduled to start school a day later and the school is given notification to expect the new arrival.
Edmonton Public Schools' intake begins at the school followed with a visit to the reception centre.
In other districts the intake may take place at the school.
Family Interview
Interview parents and student(s):
Complete an intake form. Sample intake forms from several Alberta school districts included below.
Determine if student qualifies for EAL support as per school's professional judgment regarding student's English language proficiency (BICS vs CALP; reading and writing assessments indicate glows and grows; citizenship documents; school registration form indicates English is not the L1, etc).
Confirm that the child's first language is not English. If English is the dominant language at home, he/she does not qualify for EAL support or funding.
Check to see if all siblings in the family have been identified as EAL students.
Learn about family and student history.
Determine formal schooling they have had to date.
Determine prior high school experience and if there are any transferable credits to apply to their high school diploma.
Provide information to support integration as outlined on the Welcoming EAL Students and Families page
Initial ELL Placement Information EPSB.pdfIntake-Draft EICS 2.pdf