Number: 8.208R
Title: Monitoring exited ESL students
Effective date: June 2007
Monitoring is defined as continuing support for exited ESL students.
After the student has been exited, his/her progress must be monitored. At the beginning of the new school year, all teachers must be made aware of which students have exited. During teacher meetings, which should be held on a regular basis in all divisions, recently exited students will be red-flagged if their progress is not competitive with previously exited students at the same grade level and action will be taken accordingly involving expert faculty.
All students new to FIS who have exited an ESL program at their previous school are automatically monitored.
Monitoring Process
1. An existing student database should be updated at the beginning of each school year (similar to the attendance system in the US) on which a teacher can readily note which students are in a special situation (e.g. ESL, special needs, IBDP etc.) Exited students should also be on this database. This would necessitate teachers in the PS, ES and at FISW having computer access to student databases. Homeroom teachers should also check the Student Language Profile of all new students.
2. Any teacher will be able to fill in an online ESL referral form indicating a concern about an exited student’s progress. This form will be sent to the ESL dept for further action.
3. There is a need for more regularly scheduled meetings about student progress, not just on an “as needed” basis. If ESL students are on the agenda, the ESL teacher(s) of that grade level should be free to attend the meeting. If concerns are raised about exited ESL students, students are then red-flagged and one or more of the following consequences may ensue:
Possible return to ESL instruction
Consult files for consistency in comments amongst other subject reports
A meeting with support teacher/guidance counselor and ESL teacher to develop a plan of action
Student’s progress to be evaluated at next teacher meeting
Copies of all reports showing concerns for ESL students must be placed in the student’s file.
4. There must be ESL transition meetings i.e. between grades 1 and 2, 5 and 6 at the main campus and between grades 5 and 6 (or earlier) at FISW and FIS. ESL teachers must be present at such meetings.
5. In order to help in the monitoring process, all teachers should receive ongoing training in delivering ESL-friendly lessons. Such training should be mandatory for all new teachers.