Identificiation

1. When a family arrives at any Neosho school to enroll a student, they will complete a Home Language Survey which asks, "Was English the first language your chlid learned to speak?".  If the family answers "No", the ESL teacher at that building will check the student's records to determine if they have previously been given the WAP-T or an ACCESS assessment.  If the student's records do not indicate that they have been assessed during the previous school year, the ESL teacher will administer the WAP-T.  Also, the family will complete a migrant parent survey.  Assistance will be provided for families to complete the necessary enrollment forms.
2. The ESL teacher will inform parents of ESL services available to their student(s).  The parents will be notified of the testing results and placement.
3. Upon completing assessments and enrollment forms, the ESL teacher at the appropriate attendance center(s) for each student will provide student information, including last school attended, native language, and language proficiency test results to teachers.

 

Criteria for Initial Placement in the ESL Program

A student who has been classified as an English Language Learner (ELL) is eligible for ESL services.  To be classified as an ELL, a student must meet one or more of the following criteria:

• The student is a language minority.
• The student is unable to converse in English during a personal interview.
• The student is identified as non-English proficient or Limited English proficient as determined on an English language proficiency test.
• The student is transferring from another school where he/she was receiving ESL services.
• The student is reading two or more years below grade level as determined by the STAR Reading Assessment or an English language proficiency test.

Parents will be given a Parent Notification Form which includes the results of the language assessment and the reasons the student is identified as an English language learner.  The parent or guardian will be asked to sign the Parent Notification Form indicating whether they agree to or refuse the ESL services for their child.

 

Ongoing Assessment of ELL Students

The district assesses all ELL students kindergarten - 12th grades each year using the state English language proficiency test following the guidelines set by DESE.  ESL teachers also administer the SOLOM (Student Oral Language Matrix) - This scale will be used by at least one regular classroom teacher in addition to the ELL teacher.

In addition, ELL students are assessed throughout the year, along with their grade level peers, using STAR Early Literacy or Reading tests, and District Common Assessments.  The TerraNova standardized achievement test is administered each spring to all students in kindergarten - 2nd and 9th  grades.  Students in 3rd - 8th and 10th - 11th grades are given the MAP each spring.  High school students will also be assessed using MAP End-of-Course Exams.

 

Criteria for Continued Placement in the ESL Program

All ELL students will be assessed annually to determine if they qualify to continue in the ESL program, be placed on monitor status, or exited from the program.  The following criteria will be considered when deciding if a student should continue receiving ESL services.

• The student has difficulties communicating needs to teacher and peers in English as determined by the SOLOM (Student Oral Language Observation Matrix).
• The student has difficulties understanding everyday conversations and normal classroom discussions as determined by the SOLOM.
• Most of the student's oral and/or written sentences are grammatically incorrect.
• The student scores below the proficient level in all four modalities on an English language proficiency test.
• The student scores more than two years below grade level on the STAR reading assessment.  (Grades 1-12)
• The student scores Below Basic on the Communication Arts section of the MAP test. (Grades3-11)
• The student is performing below grade level expectations based on teacher observations in the regular classroom and samples of the student's work.
• The student is unable to receive a satisfactory grade without modifications in core classes.

 

Exit Criteria

ELL students are assessed annually to determine if they qualify to continue in the ESL program or are ready to be exited.  The following criteria are used to determine when a student is ready to exit the program:

• The student has scored at the Proficient Level on an English language proficiency test.

In addition, the student must meet two of the following criteria:

• The student has scored no more than 2.0 years below grade level on the STAR reading assessment (Grades 1-12). 
• The student has scored at the Proficient level on the Communication Arts section of the MAP test (Grades 3-11).
• The student has performed at the expected level based on teacher observations in the regular classroom and samples of the student work.
• The student has scored 20-25 on the SOLOM (Student Oral Language Observation Matrix).
• The student has received a satisfactory grade without modifications in two or more core classes.
• The student is receiving other appropriate services.

Students who are exited from the ESL program will be monitored for a period of two years.  During the monitoring period, the ESL teacher will review the student's grades, classroom performance, and testing results.  If a student's academic performance declines in the core classes during this two-year monitoring period, they may be re-entered into the ESL program

 

ELLs and Special Services

The district special education compliance plan will be followed when an ELL student is referred for evaluation.  Prior to referral, consideration will be given to the students:

• Native language development.
• Length of time in an appropriate ESL program.
• Below grade level academic achievement, not related to language or culture.
• Failure to make progress through an intervention process.
• Systematic identification of low achievement and corrective actions.

 

ELLS and Enrichment Services

Identification of ELL students for enrichment services follows the district planfor indenifying qualified students.  Prior to referral, consideration will be given to these characteristics:

• Highly curious.
• Enjoys discovering / manipulating language.
• Thinks of unsual ways to solve problems.
• Learns quickly to speak a second lanugage.