ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

North Allegheny School District September 22, 2014

ESL Parent Orientation Meeting

September 22, 2014

A G E N D A

Introductions

ESL Program and Instruction

ESL Materials and Resources

ESL Exit Criteria and ACCESS

ESL Resources

Next Steps

Introductions

Ms. Guinevere E. Maximo Supervisor of Special Education and Pupil Services

Mrs. Kelly Noyes K-12 ESL Program Supervisor, AIU3

ESL Specialist Teachers

Mrs. Aliceann Boyle – Carson Middle School/NAI

Mrs. Marcy Marshall – Marshall Middle/NAI

Miss Sangeetha Ramakrishna – Marshall Elementary

Miss Nicole Tutino -McKnight Elementary

Miss Melissa Zarra –McKnight Elementary

English Language Learners (ELLs) attend magnet schools so that services are delivered more effectively. Students are reassigned to

the magnet school for all instruction, eliminating shuttle transportation between schools and loss of instructional time for

students.

All North Allegheny Senior High School students will receive ESL Instruction at North Allegheny Intermediate School.

All Marshall Middle School students will receive ESL services at Marshall Middle School.

ESL Magnet Program

Magnet Schools Feeder Schools

Marshall Elementary Bradford Woods Elementary

McKnight Elementary Franklin Elementary Hosack Elementary Ingomar Elementary Peebles Elementary

Carson Middle School Ingomar Middle School

Who Are Our English Language Learners?

English Language Learners are

students whose first language is not

English and who are in the process of learning English.

What is English as a Second Language?

English as a Second Language is teaching Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing

in an educational environment at

appropriate developmental levels with little or no use of the native language.

How Does a Student Qualify for ESL?

When registering a newly enrolled student, all parents/guardians are required to complete a Home Language Survey.

If a language other than English is spoken in the home, a Student Background Questionnaire is completed by the parent/guardian.

The need for further evaluation of a student is determined by information provided on the Student Background Questionnaire, and any previous U.S. school records.

An evaluation is administered by an ESL Specialist to determine levels in Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening.

For students transferring schools within the United States, school records will be reviewed by the ESL Specialists, and student placement will be determined by the most recent ESL evaluation results.

What Are Enrollment Trends in the ESL Classes?

English as A Second Language Enrollment

2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14

Non-English

Speaking 19 27 30 15

Beginning 17 14 22 22 33 25 15 9 11 9

Intermediate 30 31 41 41 22 23 16 28 28 19

Advanced 28 18 20 20 17 6 6 12 12 10

Consultative 7 6 10 8

Monitor 38 57 31 31 38 45 45 50 52 39

Total 113 120 114 114 110 99 108 132 143 100

How are ESL Classes Scheduled?

District administrators collaborate with staff to schedule classes.

ESL instruction occurs primarily during Communication Arts or English/Reading.

Group instruction may be provided by combining students from more than one grade level and varying proficiency levels.

Children may have more than one ESL Specialist per year.

What Does ESL Instruction Look Like?

What Does ESL Instruction Look Like?

ESL delivery parallels instruction of Communication Arts in the mainstream education classroom.

ESL instruction is PA standards-based and

aligned with the state assessments (PSSA and Keystone Exams).

The goal of ESL instruction is to increase language proficiency that revolves around the language associated with the content areas.

The focus of ESL instruction is to prepare students to be competent in English academic courses.

ESL Specialists may “push-in” to content area classes to assist students.

ESL classrooms have smaller class sizes!

What Does ESL Instruction Look Like?

What Does ESL Instruction Look Like?

Smaller Class Size Allows For:

Individualized instruction

Adequate pacing

Active participation

More repetition

Greater focus on specific needs of students

Greater exploration of student questions

Authentic assessments

Thorough practice and review

Frequent communication

Resources easily available

What ESL Materials and Resources are

Implemented?

NEW CURRICULM

Reach Series K-5 Inside Series 6-8 Edge Series 9-12 All series are standards-based with Specialized Instructional Strategies. All series have online components that teachers and students may utilize in the classroom.

What Types of Technology are Available

in ESL Classrooms?

20 Computers were purchased through a Federal Title III Grant

10 Laptops

6 iPods

11 iPads

In addition, software was purchased that engages the students in Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing entitled:

Rosetta Stone

Tell Me More

The testing provides informative results and helps teachers plan appropriate language

instruction.

What is English Language Proficiency

Testing?

There is a mandatory assessment for all students who receive English Language instruction.

Title I and III: All K-12 ELLs must be assessed annually in the domains of listening, speaking,

reading, and writing.

Assessing

Communication and

Comprehension in

English

State to

State

for English Language Learners

What is the ACCESS for English Language

Learners?

The State Test for English Proficiency

Entering - 1

Emerging - 2

Developing - 3

Expanding - 4

Bridging - 5

Reaching-6

What are the Six Levels of English

Language Proficiency?

This report will provide information about the student’s English language proficiency in relation to the language of the content areas not on the student’s academic achievement.

These reports will be mailed to your home, after they are made available to the District, typically over the summer.

What is the ACCESS Parent Report?

District: Student:

School: State ID: District ID:

Grade: Birth Date:

Report Purpose: This report gives information about your child’s level of social and academic English language proficiency. Social language is used to communicate for everyday purposes. Academic language is used to communicate the content of language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.

Student’s English Language Proficiency Level

Test Section 1 – Entering 2 – Beginning 3–

Developing 4 –

Expanding 5 – Bridging

6 –

Rea

ch

ing

Listening

Speaking

Reading

Writing

Oral LanguageA

(Listening and Speaking)

LiteracyB

(Reading and Writing)

ComprehensionC

(Listening and Reading)

Overall ScoreD

(Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing)

Proficiency Level

Description of English Language Proficiency Levels

1 – Entering Knows and uses minimal social language and minimal academic language with visual support

2 – Beginning Knows and uses some social English and general academic language with visual support

3 – Developing Knows and uses social English and some specific academic language with visual support

4 – Expanding Knows and uses social English and some technical academic language

5 – Bridging Knows and uses social and academic language working with grade level material

6 – Reaching Knows and uses social and academic language at the highest level measured by this test

Other Information

Test Section Is Blank – If the student was absent for this Section of the test A – Oral Language = 50% Listening + 50% Speaking B – Literacy = 50% Reading + 50% Writing C – Comprehension Score = 70% Reading + 30% Listening - will be blank if student was absent for one or both of the Sections D – Overall Score = 35% Reading + 35% Writing + 15% Listening + 15% Speaking - will be blank if student was absent for one or more of the Sections

Parent/Guardian Report – [Insert Year]

ACCESS for ELLs® English Language Proficiency Test

Grades K, 1, 2, 9, 10 and for students in U.S. schools less than one year: ACCESS Test Score of 5.0 or higher (bridging), Tier C (advanced) Grades of C or better in all content areas Equivalent score on another assessment that is comparable to Basic or

higher on the PSSA Reading and Math or Keystone Literature and Algebra (will vary by grade)

Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, and 12: ACCESS Test Score of 5.0 or higher (bridging), Tier C (advanced) Grades of C or better in all content areas Score of Basic or higher on the PSSA Reading and Math or Keystone

Literature or Algebra (will vary by grade)

Scores on PSSA, ACCESS, and Keystone Exams are typically not made available to the District until after the school year has ended.

What is the ESL Exit Criteria?

If your child will be exiting the ESL Program, you will receive a letter in the mail after the school year is complete and all scores from standardized tests have been received and reviewed by the District.

Exited students will be monitored for two years

by an ESL Specialist to ensure academic progress without ESL services.

Students who exit ESL and attend a magnet

school will choose between their home school or parent provided transportation of their student to their ESL school. Transportation will be provided to the ESL school for exited students if one or more siblings qualify for ESL at the magnet school.

What is the ESL Exit Criteria? (cont.)

ESL Resources

We are committed to improving communication through e-mail, phone calls, scheduled conferences, and information sent home:

Parents to teachers

Teachers to parents

Parents to school

CHAIN OF COMMAND:

Teacher Principal ESL Supervisor (Mrs. Kelly Noyes) Supervisor of Special Education and Pupil Services (Ms. Guinevere Maximo)

ESL Website

Find ESL teachers’ pages and emails, overview of the program, and information on resources and

important events.

How do I access it?

1. Go to www.northallegheny.org

2. At the top, click on the Administration tab.

3. Select Supervisor, Special Ed. & Pupil Services.

4. On the new page, click English as a Second Language.

5. Under ESL Program on the left, choose which links interest you.

ESL Resources

Community and Communication ESL Resources

Thursday E-Blast

What is it?

Information for parents and students about the community, District, and schools.

What will I find here?

Permission forms for after school activities, sports, fundraisers, parties, testing information, etc.

When should I check it? It is updated every Thursday.

Community and Communication ESL Resources

Thursday E-Blast (cont.)

How do I find it?

1. On the left side of the Home page, click Especially for…Parents.

2. Scroll down and click on Thursday E-Blast, in blue, in the middle.

3. Click on the most recent date listed at the top.

4. Find important information, pertaining to your school, from the District and from the community.

5. Click links under each category.

6. Print and return any necessary forms to school.

Tyler Gradebook

Your student’s grades in every class and report cards are available through Tyler Gradebook.

How do I access it?

1. Go to www.northallegheny.org

2. On the left side of the Home page, click the Student Data Portal box.

3. A new page will open. At the top it will say, “View Instructions for: Parents/Students.”

4. Click on Parents and follow the directions.

NOTE: If you did not receive or have lost your student’s ID number and password, contact the main office of the school your oldest student attends for this information.

ESL Resources

North Allegheny participates in the Allegheny Intermediate Unit #3 Consortium to access foreign language translating service through TransPerfect.

TransPerfect is a telephone service that provides translators in 180 languages, 365 days a year.

TransPerfect may be used for emergencies; ESAP, PPT, or IEP meetings; conferences; or at parent/guardian request.

ESL Resources

To help improve communication, the NASD has

developed the ESL Advisory Committee

A group of content area teachers, an ESL Specialist,

administrators, and parents meet to discuss events in the ELL community and new ways to assist ELLs.

Meeting dates

Thursday, October 16, 2014 and Thursday, March 19, 2015

All meetings take place at the Central Administration Office at 1:30 p.m.

Please sign up if interested. Reminders will be sent home before meeting dates.

What is the ESL Advisory Committee?

Next Steps

North Allegheny School District Initiatives:

Continue District-wide parent orientation.

Apply for Title III funds to supplement current ESL services.

Continue to promote staff development. Continue ESL Advisory Committee.

Improve communications regarding ESL.

Continue to utilize TransPerfect Translating Service.

Conduct an ESL Family Night, Thursday, March 12, 2015, at 7:00 p.m. at Carson Middle School.

A New Look

North Allegheny Website

Please take a Ten Most Frequently Asked Questions Pamphlet.

If interested, please sign up for the ESL Advisory Committee Meetings.

Please sign up for Elementary ESL Conferences:

Monday, November 3, 2014, 12:00-7:45 p.m.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014, 8:00 a.m.-3:45 p.m.

Handouts and Sign ups

Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may

remember; involve me and I’ll understand.

~Chinese Proverb~