Wilkes County Schools

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English as a Second Language » ESL Information for Parents

ESL Information for Parents

Programs and Services
The Wilkes County Schools ESL Department serves all schools as a resource for translation, interpretation, and access to information for non-English speaking parents, students, and all school personnel.  Consultations with parents regarding all school policy, regulations, academic requirements, federal programs, graduation requirements, transcript analysis, community resources, and much more are provided by our Interpreters and ESL staff throughout the county. We also provide personal bilingual communication with students and parents to facilitate enrollment in Spanish only; however, bilingual support in other languages are available if needed.
 
Enrollment by all students in Wilkes County Schools is done at the selected school through an online admissions and registration process called InfoSnap.  Each student enrolling through this process completes a Home Language Survey to determine if student's dominant language is a language other than English.  Interpreters and ESL personnel can provide assistance in the enrollment process at the selected school by reviewing all documentation and determining if initial testing for English Learners (EL) is needed. If the investigation reveals that the dominant home language is a language other than English the student will be scheduled for administration of the World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) placement test (WIDA Screener). However, if the process shows the student’s dominant language is English, then, the student is not a language minority student; therefore, English language assessment is not required and the enrollment process will continue at the selected school. 
 
Transfer students from other North Carolina schools or from states that are members of the WIDA Consortium may not need to be reassessed. The ESL Department will obtain test results from the previous school to determine the student’s EL status and confirm the status in the state student database PowerSchool - EL section. If enrollment occurs at the beginning of the school year, 30 calendar days are given to obtain these records. If students enroll after the beginning of the school year, 14 calendar days are given to obtain scores. However, if no scores are available during the allotted time, ESL personnel will administer the WIDA Screener at the school. The results from the most recent administration of the WIDA Screener will be used for all decisions related to the student’s EL identification.
 
In addition, educational background information, including previous academic records or transcripts, special circumstances, EC services, health concerns, disabilities, and other related issues will be investigated during the enrollment process.  The parent will be notified of every aspect of the process and all results in a language and format they can understand.
 
After all testing is completed, the ESL Departmenr will provide testing results via the Parent Notification Letter (PNL) as required by Title III Federal Regulations and North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NC DPI). This letter outlines testing results, eligibility, services and benefits, parent rights, annual testing information, and equal access opportunities to other district programs. For students identified as EL, ESL personnel and/or an Interpreter will fully explain the types of support levels offered by the ESL Program and the recommendation based on the student’s results. Parents will be notified of their right to select the type of support level they desire for their child.
 
In addition, Parents of EL students will be notified of state and federal law to be annually assessed on the state-identified English language proficiency test until the student meets the exit criteria. The test currently used by North Carolina for annual assessment is the Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Learners or the ACCESS for English Learners (ELs).
 
Once enrollment is complete, parent/guardian will be given a packet with all the required forms, documents, and copies to take back to the school. If the student is EL, testing information and a copy of the signed PNL is to be given to the ESL teacher. The ESL teacher needs this information to complete an EL Plan and to begin ESL services. If the student is not EL, testing information and copies will also be included for filing in the student’s cumulative folder and for the ESL teacher.
 
A copy of all enrollment forms, documentation, and testing information of each student, EL or not, will be kept and housed at the ESL Department for Wilkes County Schools. The ESL Department maintains a database of all identified EL students, monitored students, exited students, testing information, and other relevant student information through the ELLevation Database.

Language Instruction Educational Program (LIEP) Services

Wilkes County Schools is committed to providing ESL services in the least restrictive manner possible. Therefore, a variety of services are offered to EL students. The type of service offered is determined by the proficiency level and the needs of the student. The rate of transition, or the average amount of time it takes for a child to reach superior proficiency in the ESL program, is expected to be 3-5 years.
 
You may contact your child's school principal, ESL teacher, school parent liaison, school interpreter, or the Director of ESL with any comment, questions, or concerns that you might have about your child's English language skills.
 
We encourage and invite you to become a participant in your child's education.
 
The tables below describe the continuation of services we offer to our EL students:
Context
Wilkes County Schools is a mid-size local education agency that serves approximately 9,600 students. The majority of EL students come from a Hispanic/Latino background. The LEA provides strong support for all ELs and a small teacher-to-student ratio. One teacher may serve more than one school; the average caseload for an ESL teacher in Wilkes County is 50 students, including Exited Monitored students. The average EL population served by ESL services usually stays around 500 students. The EL plan is developed at the district level and for each EL student with collaboration from content/grade teachers.
 
Criteria
Category:  Developing Category:  Progressing Category:  Emerging
Generally proficiency levels - 1-2 R/W
Year in US Schools <2
May not be meeting HS graduation requirements or struggling academically; non-literate in first language.
Generally proficiency levels - 3-4 R/W
Years in US Schools >2, long-term ELs not meeting HS graduation requirements or struggling academically. Level of service may vary depending on proficiency level in writing for this category.
Generally proficiency level - 4 R/W
Years in US Schools varies
May be meeting HS graduation requirements and/or succeeding academically in most subject areas or language domains.
 
Services:  Elementary School
Category:  Developing Category:  Progressing Category:  Emerging
K-5:  Pull out 5 days a week for a minimum of 30-45 minutes. Some co-teaching, content teachers SIOP trained, appropriate instructional modifications in place, after-school tutoring provided at participating schools, and some TAs available for additional support.
K-5:  Mostly pull out to focus on specific skill sets identified through data reflection, many content teachers SIOP trained, appropriate instructional modifications in place, after-school tutoring provided.
 K-5:  Mostly served by SIOP trained teachers. ESL support as needed for teachers (coaching, ELL strategies) and student (1-on-1, small group, content specific) to meet specific language needs as identified through data reflection. Appropriate instructional modifications in place.
 
Services:  Middle School
Category:  Developing Category:  Progressing Category:  Emerging
6-8:  Content-based ESL class for 45 minutes per day. Content teacher team SIOP and students strategically scheduled. Appropriate instructional modifications in place, and after- school tutoring provided in schools.
 6-8:  Some content-based ESL classes for 45 minutes per day, some pull out. Content teacher team SIOP and students strategically scheduled. Appropriate instructional modifications in place and some after-school tutoring proved in most schools. 6-8:  Mostly served by SIOP trained teachers, ESL support as needed for teachers (coaching, ELL strategies) and student (1-on-1, small group, content specific) to meet specific language needs as identified through data reflection. Appropriate instructional modifications in place.
 
Services:  High School
Category:  Developing Category:  Progressing Category:  Emerging
9-12:  All schools offer content-based ESL class for 90 minutes per day. Content teachers SIOP and student clustered. Appropriate instructional modifications in place.
 9-12:  Some content-based ESL classes for 90 minutes per day. Appropriate instructional modifications in place. 9-12:  Served by SIOP trained teachers. ESL support as needed for teachers (coaching, ELL strategies) and student (1-on-1, small group, content specific) to meet specific language needs as identified through data reflection. Appropriate instructional modifications in place.