Multilingual learner program
Digital Handbook
Lancaster County School District’s Multilingual Learner Program (MLP) is designed to provide equal educational opportunities to students with a primary or home language other than English and classified as Multilingual Learners (MLs). This program identifies and serves the linguistic and academic needs of students with limited English proficiency in our schools. These students are identified as Limited English Proficient (LEP). They are protected by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (and other subsequent legislation and court decisions) from being discriminated against in their education. LEP students are entitled to an equal education regardless of their national origin, English proficiency, or immigration status.
MEET THE TEAM
"To have another language is to possess a second soul."
- Charlemagne
NOTE: Some documents are restricted to ML Team members and others to LCSD employees only.
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MULTILINGUAL LEARNER PROGRAM'S VISION, MISSION & APPROACH
OUR VISION
When multilingual learners and teachers are partners in learning, language and achievement flourish.
OUR MISSION
To serve all multilingual learners, support teachers to fulfill their highest aspirations and empower MLs to achieve more than they think possible, and strengthen home-school partnerships.
OUR APPROACH
Our approach is grounded in respect for culture, home-school partnership, learners, family, teachers, and school leaders as key agents in students learning progress. We build their capacity to ignite each ML’s motivation, persistence, and compassion to propel growth and success in school, college, career, and life.
Our responsibilities consist of:
Serving LCSD multilingual students and families;
Providing language acquisition program to meet individual needs;
Supporting families in navigating the district and community resources;
Facilitating and informing and smooth schooling experience for all ML families from registration to graduation;
Advocating for communication and partnership between home and school for ML families in a language they can understand, which meets Federal and State laws; and
Providing a learning environment that encourages student pride in cultural heritage.
Multilingual LEARNERS Program's GOALS
To identify all students whose first language acquired, the language spoken most often by the student, and the primary language used in the home is one other than English;
To assess the language abilities of identified students;
To provide appropriate instruction for multilingual learners;
To support the curriculum and instruction of the mainstream classroom;
To provide guidance and professional development to administrative staff, guidance counselors, teachers, and any other support staff that works with MLs on instructional strategies and assessments;
To assess and monitor the academic progress of students served by the program;
To have MLs meet the state-mandated test for English proficiency to exit from the program;
To provide follow-up monitoring for students who have exited the program;
To provide families with school- and district-wide information in a language they can understand;
To promote parental involvement by communicating instructional goals and expectations to parents and assisting with their involvement at school and at home;
To provide open, two-way communication between home and school through a district-wide text messaging platform.
To provide ML families with resources within the community to meet their language, emotional, social, and economic needs.
LCSD'S MULTILINGUAL LEARNER PROGRAM TEAM