Rule 15 EL Program Review
Nebraska's Rule 15 (Section 008) requires each district to conduct an annual review of its English Learner Program. Further, a written summary report of the findings must be kept on file in the district superintendent's office and made available to the public upon request. While there is not a specific form or format for the process or summary report, several resources are available for guidance:
2023 EL Program Review Technical Assistance Day
December 5, 2023
Register at www.esu4.org > Events > Register
ESU 4 Title III Consortium Program Review Shared Resources
Please click HERE to access the shared resources.
Need Support?
Check out the steps outlined below.
Contact Jen at ESU 4 or Anne from NDE.
Plan to attend our EL Program Review Technical Assistance Day offered annually.
For a successful review, begin by gathering tools, information, and people!
Rule 15 Implementation Guide (printed or digital)
Here's a Google Doc version of the sample review in Appendix B. Make a copy to edit and save as your own! (You must be signed into your Google account to make a copy. Otherwise, you can download a PDF to your device without signing in.)
Copy of your district's most recent EL Program Review and summary
District Data: achievement, demographic, perceptual, and other pertinent data related to your English learners compared to non-ELs
Required data elements: ELPA21 Summative, NSCAS Growth/ACT, graduation & dropout rates, years spent receiving language services
For a sample of data, you might consider reviewing the sample EL Data Worksheet.
Ask your DAC for the ELPA21 On-Track Report in ADIVSER.
Find instructions to access the report HERE.
Guidance for Understanding the On Track Report (2022)
Consider the range of data that is available (e.g., achievement, participation, ELPA21). Your district may also have new perceptual data to consider (e.g., technology access).
Ideally, a team conducts this review. At the least, plan to share with others and involve them in problem-solving and action planning!
Use the Rule 15 Implementation Guide (2021) program review sample to reflect on your district's EL services.
Here's a Google Doc version. Make a copy to edit and save as your own!
Pages 37 - 41 outline the requirements of the annual program review as well as recommendations for sound practice.
Pages 57-67 provide required elements and best practices for each section of Rule 15. Work through the guide to reflect on on processes, document evidence, and consider strengths and potential program modifications.
Consider this work the heart of your review! Be thorough and honest. The point of the review is to study what's working (or not working in your system), so intentional and effective changes can be considered.
Keep your review notes on file in case you are asked for evidence in an accreditation or monitoring review.
For further support, the NDE Canvas Module includes a section to help a team conduct a solid review.
Summarize your most important findings.
No specific format for the written summary report is required; consider these ideas for guidance:
NDE Written Report Guidance (includes requirements and samples)
ESU 4 Written Report GDoc Template (Make a copy to edit and use.)
Be sure to redact or generalize information that would identify particular students.
Submit the summary.
Rule 15 requires that the summary be submitted to the superintendent and available to the public upon request.
Send a copy to your ESU 4 Title III Consortia Director (i.e., Jen) as evidence for our consortium monitoring review.
Plan for action.
Establish a plan for action to accomplish necessary program modifications and goals.
No specific format is required. In fact, integration with MTSS / continuous improvement plans is highly encouraged. If helpful, here are a few basic action planning templates: