What is Title III, Langauge Instruction for English Learners and Immigrant Students?

The program serves low-income students by providing funds to improve and strengthen the academic quality, institutional management, and fiscal stability of eligible institutions.

Funds may be used for planning, faculty development, and establishing endowment funds. Administrative management, and the development and improvement of academic programs also are supported. Other projects include joint use of instructional facilities, construction and maintenance, and student service programs designed to improve academic success, including innovative, customized, instruction courses designed to help retain students and move the students rapidly into core courses and through program completion, which may include remedial education and English language instruction .

Support for the Topeka Public School District

The ELL team will:

• Assess students new to the district for English proficiency
• Qualify students for the district's ELL programs and supports
• Work to find the appropriate location for English language learners to ensure they receive optimal ELL services
• Interpret international transcripts to make sure students new to the district are provided with the credits to which they are entitled
• Employ bilingual (English/Spanish) staff at the Quinton Heights Welcome Center to interpret and/or translate

Services we provide for administrators and schools are:

• Research-based delivery model designed by a team of elementary and secondary principals, teachers, ELL experts and outside consultants which is re-evaluated every year
• Licensed/ESOL endorsed teachers for every ELL school
• Elementary and secondary ELL coaches to support teachers and administrators who work with English Languages Learners
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) paraeducators for every ELL school
• Dual language (English/Spanish) programs
• Middle School Newcomer Program for students who are non-English speakers and/or new to the United States
• District-wide personnel to help translate documents to Spanish
• Professional development
• Instructional materials which are tailored for English language learners
• Ongoing collaboration with all elementary and secondary ELL teachers
• Support and guidance as needed for ELL families, students, teachers and administration
• Licensed and trained staff to administer the Kansas English Language Proficiency Assessments required by the state for all non-ELL sites

Support for Families and the Community

• Educational supports to help ELL students experience educational and social success
• Connections to community resources (dental, visual, hearing, food banks. clothing banks, counseling, immigration specialist, etc.)
• Family Night twice a year
• District resources to advocate for ELL, immigrant and migrant families on issues relating to the success of individual students and the ELL programs within our district
• Instructional materials and recommendations to assist parents to help their children at home
• Welcome Center at 24th and SW Topeka Blvd with English/Spanish interpreters
• Computers with internet service
• English/Spanish lending library with books for ages toddler to adult
• Family outreach

TITLE III FAST FACTS

• Funder: Federal grant passed through the State
• Award Amount: $145,830
• Time Period: 1 year
• Number of Students Served: 1738
• Schools Served:
• Program Manager: Anita Curry, Director of EL and DL Services
• KSDE Fact Sheet Title III EL Services