Office of Multilingual Learning
EL Services Talking Points for Parents and Families The Office of Multilingual Learning supports academic achievement of English Learners through: ● Access to grade-level standards and curriculum ● Academic language development ● Support in the language-acquisition process ● Bilingual Educational Assistant support
EL Identification
Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) is required by law to identify English Learners (ELs) in need of language assistance services. A Home Language Survey (HLs) is completed at the time of enrollment to gather information about a student’s language background. The information provided on the HLS determines student eligibility for the English language proficiency assessment: the WIDA Screener. The WIDA Screener assessment determines whether a student should be classified as an EL student who is entitled to EL services. Students who score between 1.0- 4.4 on the WIDA Screener are identified as English learners.
Parent Rights ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Right for their child to receive EL services to become proficient in English and to participate equally in the standard instructional program within a reasonable period of time Right to request EL services for their child Right to know about EL services their child could receive, and the benefits of such services Right to be notified if their child is/will be receiving EL services (* district sends notifications) Right to translation/interpreting services after their child has been identified as qualifying for EL services Right to opt their child out of EL service or EL testing (*See EL Service and EL Test Refusal forms) Right to be offered EL services again if their child is struggling Right to extended time in a level (parents are encouraged to ask questions) Right to refuse extended time in a level Right to be involved in every decision regarding their child’s education Right to know about graduation pathways and college/career readiness expectations Right for their child to receive counseling support
Office of Multilingual Learning
EL Services ●
English Language Development (ELD) instruction is the explicit teaching of academic language through content. The focus of ELD is on oral language development, language structures (vocabulary, grammar, and discourse), language functions and forms, building background knowledge, and providing the scaffolding that students need in order to access grade-level curriculum.
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At the Elementary level, All EL students with language levels 1-4 receive daily intensive English language development (ELD) instruction taught by specially trained EL teachers, as well as general education teachers in a collaborative setting. Both teachers design instructional programs that develop your child’s English language proficiency to meet grade level academic standards.
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Students in grades 1-5 scoring 1.0 to 1.5 on the WIDA Screener are encouraged to attend a Language Academy (LA) program offered in several LA schools. Language Academy provides a higher level of support for ELs in a classroom that includes both English learners and native English speakers. Additionally, EL students in LA schools receive daily intensive language instruction through an interactive English Now! Curriculum.
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Students with a language level of 5 may not receive direct language instruction from an EL teacher, but they can be included in groups with other EL students who are working with an EL teacher. EL teachers review academic progress of level 5 students in collaboration with general education teachers.
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At the Secondary level, E L students of all proficiency levels (1-5) receive instruction in classrooms that includes both English learners and native English speakers. Students scoring level 1.0 - 2.5 on the WIDA Screener are encouraged to attend Language Academy (LA) program where sheltered instruction is provided. In this setting, ELs receive English language development (ELD) instruction as well as instruction in content areas. EL students in level 3 receive co-taught courses as well as possible ELD courses that are directly tied to the co-taught content class. Students in levels 4 and 5 participate in programs that may include 1 co-taught content course or 1 ELD course.
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EL students can also receive language support from a bilingual Educational Assistant (EA).
Exiting EL Programming and Services
As a member of the WIDA Consortium, the Minnesota Department of Education uses ACCESS for ELLs assessment. The ACCESS for ELLs assessment measures English language proficiency and determines whether an EL student is ready to exit from the EL program. For a student to be considered proficient on ACCESS 2.0 test and to exit the EL program, a student must have at least a 4.5 overall composite score and a 3.5 or greater on any three of the four domains of the ACCESS (listening, reading, speaking and writing). When students exit the EL program, s/he is reclassified as No EL in Campus at the end of August.
Office of Multilingual Learning
English Learner Assessment ●
The WIDA Screener is an English language proficiency "screener" test given to incoming students who may be identified as English learners. Results from this test help determine eligibility for EL services. The WIDA Screener is an indicator of a student's language proficiency level (1 through 6) on the WIDA continuum and helps determine appropriate levels and amounts of instructional services.
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ACCESS for ELLs: EL students in grades Kindergarten through 12 grade take ACCESS for ELLs, language proficiency assessment. This test is administered annually in the spring to measure and monitor EL students’ English language growth and readiness to exit the EL program.
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Testing accommodations are provided when appropriate
EL Service Refusal ●
Parents or guardians have the right to refuse EL services and/or testing for their child. SPPS is required by state law to obtain written documentation of service or testing refusal a nnually.
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Parents or guardians refuse EL services by signing the Refusal of EL Services Form on an annual basis. Signing the Refusal of EL Services Form means the parents waive the right for their child to receive EL instructional services.
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The Refusal of EL Services form DOES NOT EXEMPT A STUDENT FROM PARTICIPATION IN STATEWIDE EL TESTING.
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Parents can refuse English proficiency testing by signing the EL Test Refusal Form on an annual basis. Signing this forms means the parents waive the right for their child to participate in the ACCESS and W-APT assessments. (*See EL Service and EL Test Refusal forms)
Procedure for EL Service and Test Refusal ●
The EL teacher contacts his/her EL TOSA to generate the appropriate form(s). Parents complete the form(s). The EL teacher faxes or emails a copy to Phi Vu and Myrna Abrego at 360 Colborne. The refusal become effective only when Phi Vu has entered this information in CAMPUS. Original should be filed in student cumulative file.
For more information on EL Program Requirements and EL Guidance, please visit: ●
Minnesota Statues, 124D.58 to 124.64 at https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=124D.59
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U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Justice- Office for Civil Rights: ELL Guidance, Jan. 7, 2015
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Other sources: www.wida.us and www.mll.spps.org
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If you have questions, contact us at
[email protected]
Updated August 2, 2017
