English Language Learners (EL)

Under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Wisconsin created educational policies and mandates that addressed English Language Learners (EL) and bilingual programming.  Title III Part A, was written to help ensure that children and youth who are limited English proficient, Native American and/or immigrants, attain English language proficiency, develop high levels of academic attainment in English and meet the same requirements on state academic standard tests as their peers.

Identification of students requiring additional services as ELs will be determined by the Somerset School District using the following process:

• Every family who registers to attend the Somerset School District for the first time will be asked to identify the primary language spoken in their home by the parents and by the child by completing a Home Language Survey. The student’s prior academic records in or outside the United States will be reviewed to identify areas of concern where poor performance may be attributing to language barriers.

• If deemed appropriate the student may undergo an academic assessment to confirm identification. Students identified must be given the formal evaluation screening test and score less than English Language Proficiency 5 on the test to be identified as EL.

Programming

Each student in the English Learner Program has an Individualized Student Plan (ISP).  The ISP includes the student’s current classroom performance, assessment scores, annual goals and services provided. EL Programming within the Somerset School District is provided upon a continuum of services based on the individual child’s academic and instructional needs. The following are services that may be provided for an English Learner that are not provided for their English speaking peers:

• Pull-Out Instruction: these students are pulled out of their regular classrooms for short periods of time for small group instruction, to enhance their English language skills or support classroom lessons and content.

• Monitoring: this allows students to stay with English speaking peers 100% of the time with teachers and staff monitoring their progress toward grade level essential standards.

• Accommodations: these are provided in order for English Learners to have continued access to grade curriculum with additional support provided for success. For example, tests may be read aloud or vocabulary support, translation, visual representations of the meaning of language.

Mandated Policies

Each spring the English Learner program has an annual Title III parent meeting. All parents of students in the English Learner program are invited to review their students' ACCESS for ELs (Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State) test scores, district data, and Federal Annual Measurable Achievement Outcomes. Eligible parents will be invited to participate in the parent meeting.

The Somerset School District updates its Title III Plan annually, based on the feedback from the parent meetings, general education teachers, the Pupil Services team, and the results of assessments and progress of the English Learners.. (Click for Title III Plan)

For more information on Annual Measurable Achievement Outcomes, please go to the Department of Public Instruction website at English Learners in Wisconsin.

Questions

If you have any questions regarding the English Learner Program please contact the Director of Pupil Services, Jessica Thorson, at 715-247-4848 ext. 575 jthorson@somerset.k12.wi.us