Who is eligible for the English as a Second Language (ELD) program?

The ELD program is designed for English Learners, students whose main language is not English, or who have learned another language at home. The goal is to help students to become proficient in reading, writing, listening, and speaking English. It also helps students to meet academic standards in other content areas.

How are children placed in the ELD program?

All students in the district must have a completed Home Language Survey and Language Use Survey in their cumulative folder. When these forms indicate that a student’s primary home language is something other than English, then the student’s English language proficiency will be assessed. A student will then be placed in the ELD program based on the results of the standardized test and their academic record.

How many children are in an ELD class?

In most cases, the maximum number of children in an ELD class will be six to eight. Some classes may have as few as two students.

How much time will my child spend in the ELD program?

The amount of time students are scheduled for the program depends on their learning needs. Students beginning to learn English spend more time with the ELD teacher. As they become more proficient in English, the amount of time is reduced. ELD teachers meet with students in small groups or individually. At the elementary level, students leave their regularly scheduled classroom for this instruction. At the high school level, students have one or more ELD classes within their daily schedule.

Are parents involved in the program?

The ELD teacher will meet with the parents of ELD students during parent-teacher conferences. Parents may also contact the ELD teacher if they have any questions or concerns that they would like addressed.

What will my child be taught?

The ELD program is divided into four major areas: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Our ELD curriculum, National Geographic Reach, will engage students in language focused activities to enhance their vocabulary and academic skills in English. Who teaches children in the ELD program in WASD? A certified ELD Program Specialist works closely with the students in the ELD program. ELD students may also be placed in regular education classes which are taught by certified teachers.

Will the ELD teacher speak my child’s primary language?

There could be several different languages represented in the ELD program in WASD. For this reason, it would be impossible to find a teacher who spoke all the languages.

How long will my child attend ELD classes?

Children remain in the ELD program until they have reached proficient levels in the four language skills. A standardized proficiency test is given each year to assess our ELD students’ proficiency levels. Teacher input, in addition to a student’s proficiency scores, determine if a child is ready for reclassification. After reclassification from the ELD program, the ELD teacher monitors progress for two years.