MISSION STATEMENT
The USD 231 English Learners Program provides instruction to increase language proficiency to enabling students to make a smooth transition to American schooling and culture.
ENGLISH LEARNERS OBJECTIVES
Teaching English language skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
Assisting students with academic language and skills in core classes.
Collaborating with general education teachers to monitor student progress, provide suggestions on teaching practices and strategies, and support the cultural transition.
Provide communication between the school and home to ensure student’s academic success and family involvement.
CENTER BASED INSTRUCTION
El students attend one of the El center schools and participate in a regular classroom with a general education teacher with the support of a highly qualified EL teacher and paraprofessional.
This may or may not be the student’s home school. If the center is not the home school, USD 231 will provide transportation to and from the student’s home.
Interpreters will be provided, as necessary, to assure quality communication between home and school.
The EL centers are located at three sites:
Grand Star Elementary
Trail Ridge Middle School
Gardner Edgerton High School
ENROLLMENT PROCEDURE
When students enroll at any of the USD 231 schools, parents are asked to fill out a home language survey. If the survey shows the child having a primary language other than English, he/she will be given the IDEA Proficiency Test (IPT) to determine if the child qualifies for the EL program.
This test determined proficiency in English listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
Even though a child may speak English, placement in the EL program may be necessary because of the difference between social/conversational, and the content specific language used in the classroom.
If the child qualifies for the EL program, they will be directed to enroll at one of the EL center schools.
Students will remain at the EL center school until they qualify to exit the program.
Interpreters are available to assist with the enrollment process.
EL TESTING
Each spring, the state of Kansas requires EL students be assessed with the Kansas English Language Proficiency Assessment (KELPA). The state of Kansas requires students to score proficient in listening, speaking, reading, and writing for two consecutive years in order to exit the program and move to monitored status.
Once on monitored status, their academic progress is monitored for two years. They will continue to take the KELPA during this period.
If they score proficient over the two years of monitored status, they will no longer qualify for EL services and be exited from the program.
DEFINITIONS OF KEY TERMS
Assessment: test
EL: English Learner
IPT: (IDEA Language Proficiency Test) A test of reading, writing, and speaking designed to test especially to test the English language proficiency of all EL students. It is used to determine placement in the ELL program.
KELPA: (Kansas English Language Proficiency Assessment) A test of reading, writing, and speaking required by the state of Kansas each spring to test the English language proficiency of all EL students. This test is used to determine when a student has qualified to exit the EL program.
