Title III
English Learner Instructional Program
The program for English learners is designed to improve the education of English learners by assisting them in learning English and in meeting state content standards. Curriculum follows grade level standards of learning and Virginia's English language proficiency (ELP) standards.
Virginia joined the World Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) Consortium and adopted the following English language proficiency standards for implementation:
Standard 1: English learners communicate for social and instructional purposes.
Standard 2: English learners communicate for academic success in the content area of Language Arts.
Standard 3: English learners communicate for academic success in the content area of Mathematics.
Standard 4: English learners communicate for academic success in the content area of Science.
Standard 5: English learners communicate for academic success in the content area of Social Studies.
EL students receive English language support in grades K-12. The EL teachers push-in, co-teach, or pull students out for instruction. EL teachers support both the EL students and the content teacher through differentiating and scaffolding material to make course content comprehensible and to assist EL students in developing academic language proficiency.
Program Features
Services & Levels
The EL Program offers instruction with an EL teacher to students at five levels of English language proficiency (ELP), as defined by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). A description of the levels is available from the Office of Instructional Services.
Level 1 | Entering |
|---|---|
Level 2 | Emerging |
Level 3 | Developing |
Level 4 | Expanding |
Level 5 | Bridging (Monitor Status) |
Level 6 | Reaching (Post-Monitor Status) Level 6 students are monitored for academic success for two years. |
English Learners & Special Education
Students who have limited English proficiency (LEP) may also be eligible for special education. The federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA) and the Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia (2002) assure that a free appropriate public education is provided to all students eligible for special education and related services.
Students eligible for special education will receive special education and related services in accordance with each student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) §300-324(a)(2)(ii). The IEP team must consider the language needs of the child as they relate to the IEP.
Placement & Assessment
Eligibility for EL program services is based on the WIDA ACCESS for ELLs Placement Test (W-APT) and the annual ACCESS for ELLs English language proficiency test. Students who score in the English language proficiency (ELP) range of Level 1-5 qualify for language instruction program services that are offered at each school. The goal of the language services is to increase English proficiency while at the same time increasing student academic achievement in the core academic subjects.
The language progress of students at ELP levels 1-5 is measured in the spring of each year by the Virginia Department of Education approved ELP test, which since 2009 has been WIDA ACCESS for ELLs. EL students are exited from language program support when they reach Level 6. Parents are notified by mail of their child's English language proficiency progress during Quarter 1 of each school year, and can schedule to meet with their child’s EL teacher at any time throughout the school year to discuss their child's language progress.