ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

North Allegheny School District September 26, 2016

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ESL Parent Orientation Meeting

September 26, 2016

A G E N D A

Welcome and Introductions

ESL Program Overview

NASD Website

ESL Parent Advisory Group

Ten Most Frequently Asked Questions

Questions and Answers

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Introductions

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

Dr. Kelly Noyes

K-12 ESL Program Supervisor, AIU3

Mrs. Carla Hudson McKnight Elementary Principal/Administrative Liaison

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Elementary ESL Staff: • Miss Sangeetha Ramakrishna – Marshall

Elementary • Miss Nicole Tutino – McKnight Elementary • Miss Melissa Zarra – McKnight Elementary

Secondary ESL Staff: • Mrs. Aliceann Boyle – Carson and

Marshall Middle Schools • Mrs. Marcy Marshall – North Allegheny

High 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.

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What is English as a Second Language?

English as a Second Language (ESL) is

teaching the skills of Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing

in an educational environment at

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

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How Does a Student Qualify for ESL? When registering a newly enrolled student, all

parent(s)/guardian(s) 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(s)/guardian(s).

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 Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing.

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. 6

English Language Learners (ELLs) attend magnet schools to deliver services more effectively and efficiently. Students are reassigned to the

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

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

North Allegheny Intermediate School North Allegheny Senior High School

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How are ESL Classes Scheduled?

Building administrators collaborate with staff to schedule classes.

ESL instruction occurs primarily during English Language Arts (ELA) 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.

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What Does ESL Instruction Look Like?

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The goals of ESL Program are:

Developing competency in comprehending oral and written English.

Reaching a level of proficiency in Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing as outlined in the PA Language Proficiency Standards and Domains for ELLs in Grades Pre-K through 12.

Reaching a level of proficiency in content areas.

Participating in opportunities in the full range of curricular and extra-curricular activities offered at NASD.

Ensuring that all District staff assume responsibility for the acceleration and instruction of ELL students.

Ensuring that ELL students retain pride in their native cultures.

What Does ESL Instruction Look Like?

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What Does ESL Instruction Look Like?

ESL delivery parallels instruction of English Language Arts (ELA) in the general education classroom.

ESL instruction is aligned to the PA Core Standards, the PA Language Proficiency Standards and Domains for ELLs in Grades Pre-K through 12, and with the State assessments (PSSA and Keystone Exams).

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What Does ESL Instruction Look Like?

ESL Classes Allow 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

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What ESL Materials and Resources are

Implemented?

CURRICULUM

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 and students can access at home.

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What Types of Technology are Available

in ESL Classrooms?

Computers were purchased through a Federal Title III Grant

Laptops

iPads

Student access to the Reach curriculum through ngreach.com at school or home

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In addition, Rosetta Stone software was purchased and engages the students in Listening, Speaking,

Reading, and Writing.

What Are Enrollment Trends in the ESL

Classes?

English as A Second Language Enrollment

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16

Non-English Speaking 27 30 15 35 25

Beginning 9 11 9 12 13

Intermediate 28 28 19 17 20

Advanced 12 12 10 20 21

Consultative 6 10 8 8 8

Monitor 50 52 39 46 41

Total 132 143 100 138 128

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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.

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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

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

Emerging – 2 - Knows and uses some social English and general academic language with visual and graphic support.

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

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

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

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

What are the Six Levels of English

Language Proficiency?

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2016-2017 ACCESS for ELLs 2.0

An online assessment - ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 for grades 1 through 12.

Kindergarten and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs assessments are paper-based.

ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 is aligned with the WIDA English Language Development Standards and assesses each of the four language domains of Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing.

Students will take the Listening and Reading tests first. Their performance on those domains determines their tier placement on the remaining domains (Speaking and Writing).

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ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Continued

Scores and Reports

ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 scores can be used to:

Monitor student progress on an annual basis.

Establish when ELLs have attained English language proficiency according to State criteria.

Inform classroom instruction and assessment.

Aid in programmatic decision-making.

Student data from ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 will include the following subscores:

Scale scores on a K-12 vertically aligned scale (for each of the four domains: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing).

Grade level proficiencies in terms of the Proficiency Levels 1-5 in the WIDA English Language Development Standards.

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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

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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 the beginning of the following school year.

What is the ESL Exit Criteria?

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Communication Parent(s)/Guardian(s) will receive a letter or phone call from the

ESL school after the school year is complete and all scores from standardized tests have been received and reviewed by the District.

Monitoring Exited students will be monitored for two years by an ESL Specialist

to ensure academic progress without ESL services.

Transportation 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.

Students may also continue to receive transportation if it will be the last year in their building, i.e. 5th or 8th grade.

What is the ESL Exit Criteria? (cont.)

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ESL Communication

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

Ten Most Frequently Asked Questions Pamphlet

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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. Click on the Departments & Offices tab.

3. Select Pupil Services.

4. On the left side of the page, click the ESL Program tab.

5. You are now on the ESL page.

ESL District Resources

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Community and Communication ESL District Resources

Elementary Thursday E-Blast

What is it?

Information for parent(s)/guardian(s) and students about the community, schools, and District.

What will I find here?

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

When should I check it? Weekly, it is updated every Thursday.

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Community and Communication ESL District Resources

Thursday E-Blast (cont.)

How do I find it?

1. On the top golden bar of the home page www.northallegheny.org click on +Parents.

2. Scroll down and click on the Thursday E-Blast link towards the bottom of the page.

3. Click on the most recent date listed.

4. Find important information for the District and for every school within the District by scrolling through.

5. Click links under each category that interest you.

6. Print and return any necessary forms to school.

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Thursday E-Blast (cont.)

You can also find the Thursday E-blast by:

1. Click on NA Schools (in a black box) upper right corner of the homepage.

2. Select your school.

3. Scroll down gray bar on left side to find the Thursday E-Blast link.

ESL District Resources

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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, in the gray bar, click the Student Data Portal Instructions.

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 District Resources

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Foreign Language Translating Service

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(s)/guardian(s) request.

Contact your ESL teacher or building principal for translation services.

ESL Resources

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To help improve communication, the NASD has

developed the ESL Advisory Committee:

A group of content area teachers, an ESL Specialist,

administrators, and parent(s)/guardian(s) meet to discuss events in the ELL community and new ways to

assist ELLs.

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

What is the ESL Advisory Committee?

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Dates to Remember

ESL Advisory Committee Meetings

October 20, 2016, at 1:30, in Conference Room B

March 16, 2016, at 1:30, in Conference Room B If interested, please sign-up for the ESL Advisory Committee

Elementary Conferences

November 7 and 8, 2016 Please sign-up for a conference either Monday, November 7 from

12:00-7:45 p.m. or Tuesday, November 8 from 8:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

ESL Family Night, Thursday, March 16, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. at Carson Middle School

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A New Look

North Allegheny Website

If you are interested in signing up to volunteer in your child’s school, please visit http://www.northallegheny.org/domain/1964

Please note that in place of a social security number, you may use your passport number for these documents.

Volunteering

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

remember; involve me and I’ll understand.

~Chinese Proverb~

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