Nazareth Area School District

ESOL - English for Speakers of Other Languages

The primary goal of the ESOL program is to increase the English language proficiency of limited English proficient students so that they can meet state and district academic standards and thus be successful in school. A related goal is to increase these students' English language proficiency so that they can fully and successfully participate in all mainstreamed classes at an age-appropriate grade level.

To meet these goals, the objectives of ESOL instruction are the development of listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in English, and the provision of an educational environment which helps the ESL student understand and cope with a new culture. An ESOL program is provided in each district school where at least one student attends who is in need of ESOL instruction.

ESOL Process for Services

Registration

When a new student registers in the Nazareth Area School District along with the District registration form parents/guardians also complete a Home Language Survey. This form is required by the state of Pennsylvania for all newly enrolled students. The Home Language Survey includes four questions in regards to student's language. When indicated that the students is or has been exposed to a language other than English the student will be screened for English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) services by one of the District's ESOL specialists.

Screening

Within fourteen days of a student's start date, one of the District specialists will screen students using the WIDA-ACCESS Placement Test (W-APT). Four language domains are assessed in English: speaking, reading, writing and listening. The results are used to determine students English language proficiency level and to determine if the student qualifies for ESOL services and if so at what level.

http://www.wida.us/assessment/w-apt/index.aspx

Leveling

The state of Pennsylvania uses the WIDA Consortiums six levels of Language Proficiency in the four language domains. Level 1-Entering, Level 2- Beginning, Level 3- Developing, Level 4- Expanding, Level 5- Bridging and Level 6- Reaching.

Instruction

Once a student has been screened and, if necessary, entered into the NASD ESOL program, the ESOL specialist in the student's building will meet with the student on a regularly scheduled basis, to provide instruction in the four language domains of speaking, reading, writing and listening. Students will be instructed on their language proficiency level and monitored closely in their regular education classes. For more information on instruction models provided at each grade level contact your child's ESOL specialist.

State Assessment

Each school year, the language proficiency of ESOL students is assessed through a state assessment called the WIDA-ACCESS. This assessment is taken by all English Language Learners in the state of Pennsylvania at all levels of proficiency. The four language domains are assessed; it is a standardized test, which is scored by Metritech, an outside source.  The assessment is used to monitor a student's English proficiency growth from one school year to the next as well as to determine a student's eligibility for exiting the program. The assessment is broken down into three tiers: A, B and C.  The score the student received on the previous school year's assessment or on the W-APT score determines a student's tier.

Exit Criteria

Please see the following link for specifics on Pennsylvania's requirements for exiting ESOL. Contact your child's ESOL specialist with questions.

http://www.pattan.net/files/Memos/Pennlink081707.pdf

Some important links for Parents of English Language Learners in Pennsylvania:

This site contains links to the break down by grade cluster of the six English proficiency levels in the four language domains: 

http://www.wida.us/standards/CAN_DOs/index.aspx