Educating Students with Educating Students with Limited English Limited English

Proficiency (LEP) and Proficiency (LEP) and English Language English Language

Learners (ELL)Learners (ELL)

Leonard Shurin, Curriculum and Staff Developer for IU8

ESL Statues and RegulationsESL Statues and Regulations

22 Pa Code Chapter 4§4.26Basic Education Circular (BEC)—July 1,

2001Civil Rights Acts of 1964

ESL Statues and RegulationsESL Statues and Regulations

Improving America’s Schools Act (IASA)Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

(IDEA)Equal Education Opportunity Act of 1974

ESL Statues and RegulationsESL Statues and Regulations

Supreme Court Cases– Plyler v. Doe 1982– Castañeda v. Pickard 1981– Lau v. Nichols 1974

Plyer v. DoePlyer v. Doe

The 14th Amendment prohibits states from denying a free public education to undocumented immigrant children regardless of their immigrant status.

CastaCastañeda v. Pickardñeda v. Pickard

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals formulated a test to determine school district compliance with the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974. The three-part test includes theory, practice and results.

Lau v. Nichols 1974Lau v. Nichols 1974

Equality of educational opportunity is not achieved by merely providing all students with “the same facilities, textbooks, teachers and curriculum; for students who do not understand English are effectively foreclosed from any meaningful education.” A school district cannot be allowed to compromise a student’s right to meaningful education before proficiency in English is obtained.

Out of Compliance?Out of Compliance?

Office of Civil RightsEducation Law Center

– 11 PA school districts sued in court– All eleven lost– Administrators/teachers loss of credentials– Monetary damages ranging up to millions of

dollars– 3 year daily monitoring by OCR

ESL TermsESL Terms

LEPESL/ESOLELLBilingual Education

School District/Charter School School District/Charter School ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

School Board Policy StatementRevision of Strategic PlanESL Professional Education PlanHome Language Survey

Components of an ESL Components of an ESL Program Compliant with Program Compliant with

CastaCastañeda Testñeda TestBased on sound educational and language

learning theoryAppropriately prepared personnel and

sufficient resourcesPeriodic evaluations

Program PlanningProgram Planning

Written proceduresAssessment proceduresEqual access

ESL Written ProceduresESL Written Procedures

Enrollment requirementsHome Language Survey (HLS)—OCRLEP definition

– Every Child– PHLOTE

Program goals

ESL Curriculum and ESL Curriculum and InstructionInstruction

Required program for eligible students Scheduled daily instructional time Language Arts replacement Placement in content areas Accommodations/grading options Collaboration time between ESL and classroom

teachers Graduation requirements

Basic Interpersonal Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills (BICS)Communication Skills (BICS)

Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills are language skills needed in social situations.– Day-to-day language needed to interact socially– ELLS employ BIC skills on playground, in lunch room,

on school bus, on phone– Not demanding cognitively– Language is not specialized– Skills develop within six months

Cognitive Academic Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency (CALP)Language Proficiency (CALP)

Academic language acquisition used in listening, speaking, reading, and writing about subject area content material.– Essential for success in school– Usually takes from five to seven years to become

proficient– Context reduced– Includes skills such as comparing, classifying,

synthesizing, evaluating, and inferring– New ideas, concepts and language are presented at the

same time

Types of Instruction that DO Types of Instruction that DO NOT Replace Basic ESL NOT Replace Basic ESL

InstructionInstructionTutoringSpeech TherapyReading SpecialistContent Area Instruction by ESL teacher

ESL Teacher’s ResponsibilityESL Teacher’s Responsibility

The ESL teacher’s responsibility is to teach English, reading, writing, speaking, and listening to students who are not English proficient.

ESL is a core subject, the same as English, science, math, etc.

It is not the job of the ESL teacher to tutor ESL students in other core subject areas.

Classroom Teachers Classroom Teachers MUST MUST Adapt Instruction to Meet Adapt Instruction to Meet

Student NeedsStudent NeedsContent rich instructionRephrasingSimplified language loadIllustrations/picturesIntense vocabulary developmentGroup workCollaboration with ESL teacher

Professional Professional Development/StaffingDevelopment/Staffing

Instructional I or II certificateAppropriate training to teach ESLAppropriate training for content area

teachers

ESL Program SpecialistESL Program Specialist

The ESL program specialist is a highly skilled and highly trained teacher.

By September 1, 2004, every school district in Pennsylvania must have an ESL program specialist on staff.

The above requirement must be met whether the district has ELLs or not.

Experience as an English or foreign language teacher DOES NOT meet the requirements.

““I Can’t Speak a Foreign I Can’t Speak a Foreign Language”Language”

ESL teachers and content area teachers do not need to speak any foreign languages to teach ESL. ESL is

designed to be taught to any student who is not proficient in English without resorting to the native

language.

Assessment ProceduresAssessment Procedures

ENTRY– Home Language Survey– English language proficiency

(Woodcock Munoz, IDEA Proficiency test)– Prior academic achievement– Appropriate instructional placement

Assessment ProceduresAssessment Procedures

ACHIEVEMENT– Multiple measures—formative assessments– Standardized testing—participation and

accommodation– PSSA

Assessment ProceduresAssessment Procedures

EXIT– English language proficiency

(reading, writing, speaking, listening)– Academic achievement– Appropriate instructional placement

Culture ShockCulture Shock

Students will go through four distinct phases of culture shock.– Phase two: Silent period/distress– Phase one: Euphoria– Phase three: Recovery– Phase four: Total acculturation

Phase Two Culture ShockPhase Two Culture Shock

Most important phase to teachers– May last one year– Student reactions– Silent period– Physical ailments– Mental distress– Possible acting out in class

Equal AccessEqual Access

Academic Opportunities

Equal AccessEqual Access

Extra-curricular activities

Other Student NeedsOther Student Needs

Migrant EducationSpecial EducationCareer and Technical EducationFederal and other programsLimited Formal Schooling (LFS)

Parent Communication Parent Communication Requirements Requirements

Translation/interpretation services– Preferred language of parent

Required Annual Orientation to the Program (OCR)

Frequency equal to regular education communications

Parent Communication Parent Communication RequirementsRequirements

MUST provide information about:– Basic school information– Related issues– Program description– Content area classes– Attendance and homework policies

Parent Communication Parent Communication RequirementsRequirements

MUST provide information about:– Assessment– Academic Achievement– Special programs

FundingFunding

Local funds for basic ESL instruction Supplemental funding in addition to basic

program:– Title I– Title VII– Other federal categorical grants

RECOMMENDATION: Districts must budget annually for ESL services whether they have ESL students or not.