SUPPORTED MAINSTREAM (Grades K - 12)

Consistent, focused, and effective language development instruction is provided through ELL pull-out/push-in instruction or through small group work with the classroom teacher. Language instruction is delivered in English by teachers who have been specifically trained in the field of second language acquisition and strategies. Instruction may occur either individually or in small groups within the mainstream classroom (Push-in) or separate from the mainstream classroom (Pull-out) with the focus of supporting English language development.

Students in this model access grade-level academic content through participation in their mainstream classrooms. It is therefore imperative that districts employing this model ensure that sufficient time and resources are allocated for professional development of classroom teachers who will be responsible for providing access to grade-level curriculum for the English language learners in their classrooms.

The Multilingual Learner Statewide Strategic Plan provides a vision for supporting the success of all multilingual learners in Washington state with goals, strategies, and key actions to take at the state, district, school, and classroom level. 

The state Transitional Bilingual Education Program (TBIP) and federal Title III address the unique needs of eligible students, who come from linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds. Both programs share the same goal: develop language proficiency that enables meaningful access to grade level curricula and instruction. 

In state law, TBIP is a program within Washington's Basic Education Act - Chapter 28A.180 RCW. The federal Title III program supports supplemental instruction and services for language acquisition.

U.S. Department for Education Toolkits

• English Learner Toolkit provides information and resources for meeting the civil rights requirements for supporting all multilingual learners.

• Newcomer Toolkit provides information, professional learning activities, and resources to support newly arrived multilingual learners.

• Family Toolkit provides information for families of multilingual learners about school procedures and services to support their children.

• Center for Applied Linguistics
  The Center for Applied Linguistics is a private, nonprofit organization promoting access, equity and mutual understanding for linguistically and culturally diverse people around the world.

• Colorín Colorado
  A non-profit organization with information, activities, and advice for educators and families of English language learners.

• Education Northwest
  Chartered in 1966 as Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, Education Northwest now conducts nearly 200 projects annually, working with schools, districts, and communities across the country on comprehensive, research-based solutions to the challenges they face.

• NABE: National Association for Bilingual Education
  National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) [is] a non-profit membership organization…NABE’s priorities include: Improving instructional practices for linguistically and culturally diverse children; providing bilingual educators with more high-quality professional development opportunities.

• TESOL: Teachers of English to Students of Other Languages
  International professional organization for teachers of English with diverse on-line resources.

• Understanding Language
  Understanding Language aims to heighten educator awareness of the critical role that language plays in the new Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards.

• WABE: Washington Association for Bilingual Education
  The Washington Association for Bilingual Education promotes bilingual/multicultural education throughout the state of Washington in every possible way, at all educational and legislative levels, and among all groups.

• WAESOL: Washington Association of Teachers to Speakers of Other Languages
  WAESOL, the Washington state affiliate of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), is a professional, non-profit organization whose purposes are to: promote scholarship, disseminate information related to ESL, strengthen at all levels of instruction and research in TESOL and dialects, cooperate in appropriate ways with other groups sharing similar concerns, serve members of the ESL community in the state of Washington.