Important Terminology:

WIDA ACCESS: World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment - This is the language acquisition assessment used by the Maryland State Department of Education (as a WIDA Consortium members) to monitor Multilingual Learners (MLs) English language development as required by the Every Students Succeeds Act (ESSA).

Multilingual Learner (ML): This term refers to students whose primary language is not English. 

EL/ELL: English Learner/English Language Learner - Former terms for students learning English as a Second or Foreign language.

LEP: Limited English Proficiency - Former acronym used to identify our MLs in SchoolMax.

R-ML or R-ELL: Reclassified Multilingual Learner or English Learner - Refers to students who exited the ELD program (achieved the minimum score in the WIDA Access for English proficiency).

ESOL:  English to Speakers of Other Languages - Former name of the English Language Development Program.

TESOL: Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages

CALP: Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency

BICS: Basic Interpersonal Communicative Skills

SLIFE: Student with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education - A student who, before starting school in the United States, has missed at least six (6) consecutive months of school.

Native Language: First language spoken by the student.

Long-Term ML: A student who has been in the ELD program for more than six (6) years but is still in need of ELD services. 

Exit Score: Overall score of 4.5 or higher in the WIDA Access.

Newcomer: A student who has just arrived in the United States. Some come as refugees. 

Who Should be Screened for ELD Services?

Students must be screened for ELD services if they are:

• Born outside of the United States

• U.S. citizens with foreign schooling

• U.S. citizens whose home language is not English as documented on two out of the three questions on the Home Language Survey (HLS).

In Prince George’s County Public Schools, students are screened at the International Student Admission and Enrollment Office (ISAEO). Student must obtain a score of 4.4 or lower in the WIDA Screener in order to be classified as a Multilingual Learner.

Our Courses:

Newcomer Academy: Newcomer MLs take the following courses in their first year at Bladensburg HS:

• ELD English 1 (counts as English 9 credit for Newcomer 9th graders).

• ELD English 2 (counts as English 10 credit for Newcomer 10th graders).

• Grade Level English couse (for Newcomer 11th and 12th graders)

• ELD Newcomer Language

• Language of Science 

• Language of American History

• Applications in Mathematics (or grade level Math course based on Math Placement Test).

• AIM Literacy (if student is identified as SLIFE)

Regular Courses:

1. ELD Beginners (Level 2 or 2nd Year MLs) - 1 elective credit concurrent with grade-level English course.

2. ELD Intermediate (Level 3 or 3rd Year MLs) - 1 elective credit concurrent with grade-level English course.

3. ELD Advanced (Level 4 or 4th Year MLs) - 1 elective credit concurrent with grade-level English course.

4. Language Lab 1 (Long-Term MLs) - 1 elective credit concurrent with grade-level English course.

5. Language Lab 2 (Long-Term MLs) - 1 elective credit concurrent with grade-level English course.

Placement on courses is based on WIDA ACCESS scores and previous coursework.

Secondary Administrative Procedure For Students Receiving ELD Services

from AP 5121.2 and AP 5121.3

1. Title III of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requires that Multilingual Learners (MLs) attain English proficiency, develop high levels of academic attainment in English, and meet the same challenging state academic content and student academic achievement standards as all children are expected to meet.

2. Teachers will implement the accommodations that have been documented in the student's English Learner Accommodation Plan (ELAP). Accommodations must be selected on the basis of the individual student's English proficiency level and must be used consistently for daily instruction and local and state mandated assessments (Maryland Accommodations Manual, MSDE).

3. Students receiving ELD services will: a. Have access to instructional adaptations/modifications and assessment accommodations in both the general education classroom and ELD classroom, as specified in the Accommodations Documentation for MLs, to allow them to make academic progress in both settings; b. Receive grades based on performance on activities and classroom assessments appropriate to the language proficiency level of the student; c. Receive the same report card as is used in general education;

4. Content area teachers and ELD teachers must collaborate throughout the quarter and determine instructional adaptations/modifications as appropriate.

Refusals, Exits, and Other Questions

• How do students "pass" or exit from ELD? In order to exit the ELD program in the State of Maryland, students must obtain an overall score of 4.5 or higher in the WIDA ACCESS.

• Can students refuse or request to not be in ELD? No. Students cannot request it, but parents can refuse services. Service refusal means that the student will not be schedules on ELD course, and will not receive support services granted through the program. However, by law, the student will be part of the ELD program and will be required to complete the WIDA Test until the student passes the test. The refusal process requires a parent-teacher conference with the Department Coordinator.

• What happens if I don't have an ELD class in my schedule? All MLs are required to have an ELD course in their schedules. Special exceptions are: the ML needs other classes due to risk of “aging out” (not having a chance to graduate prior to the age of 21; the ML is dually classified as a Student with Disabilities whose IEP requires other classes and therefore, the schedule is not able to fit ELD; the ML is a senior needing other classes to graduate on time; the ML's schedule conflicts with CTE or Specialty programs required courses; or the ML is an Evening student.

• What happens if am still in ELD after I took the last ELD class (Language Lab 2)? If your WIDA overall score is 4.2 - 4.4, you will be referred to ELD Consultative Services: You will be enrolled in CLVRHS, a “phantom” course in Synergy. This course is asynchronous. Throughout the year, an ELD teacher or ELD ILT will administer your ELD Benchmark assessment and will monitor your indepent practice in the Summit K12 app - the same app all MLs use in class for Language practice.

Whom should I Contact About Multilingual Learners?

If I have questions about the students' grades and performance in class: The Content Classroom Teacher and ELD Teacher.

If I need support with or information about ELD strategies: The ELD Instructional Lead Teacher, ELD Department Coordinator, ELD Paraprofessionals, and ELD Teachers.

If I have questions about the English Language Acquisition Plan (ELAP) of my student: The ELD Case Manager.

ELD Placement, ELD Refusals, ELD Referrals: The ELD Department Coordinator 

ELD Schedules: The Professional School Counselor

Discipline, attendance, other issues: The grade level administrator.