• wsfcsELs

    Welcome to the WS/FCS ELs website!

    The ESL Department will build capacity for all teachers of English Learners to help ELs access learning through academic discourse.

    "Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) and the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974 (EEOA), public schools must ensure that EL students can participate meaningfully and equally in educational programs. EL programs must be reasonably calculated to enable EL students to attain English proficiency and meaningful participation in the standard educational program comparable to their never-EL peers." Providing English Learners Equal Access to Curricular and Extracurricular Programs, EL ToolKit, Chapter 4.

    Every potential EL student is assessed using the WIDA Screener/W-APT upon entry into our system. Thereafter each EL student is tested in the spring using the ACCESS for ELLS® English language proficiency test during the assessment window (February-April). The tests are designed to evaluate growth in five domains (Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing and Comprehension) as determined by the WIDA Screener/W-APT. These scores help identify areas of need within the system’s ESL program. Future staff development is then created to address the areas of greatest concern.

    Districts receive additional, supplemental funding (in addition to local and state funding) specifically for EL students from a Federal Title III grant for which we must reapply each year. We tell the state how we plan to spend the Title III money (which is based on the number of EL students in the system), and every year we must complete a Title III Application for these funds. The application is reviewed at NCDPI, and continued funding is approved or changes are required.

    The main purposes of Title III are to help ensure that English Learners (ELs):

    • Attain English proficiency
    • Develop high levels of academic attainment in English
    • Meet challenging State academic content achievement standards

    ESL stands for English as a Second (or Subsequent) Language. ESL instruction is for students who speak another language besides English and are learning English as a new language. ESL teachers assist EL (English Learners) students in learning English and learning the mainstream classroom content.

    ESL Support for Children and Families

    ESL teachers are specifically trained to assist and instruct your child while h/she is learning English. Most experts agree that it takes a child approximately 4-10 years to become proficient in a second language. The ESL teacher will provide instruction to increase the following: English vocabulary, English grammar skills, comprehension of English literature and your child’s understanding of what is happening in the mainstream classroom.

    At the 1st through 5th grade level, an EL student may be “pulled-out” of his/her regular class for 30-40 min. to receive English language instruction. The ESL teacher will also work with the English learner’s classroom teacher to modify instruction to assist the student. At the 6th through 12th grade level, an English Learner will go to an ESL class period. The ESL teacher will teach this class and focus on building the EL students’ English language skills. The ESL class might focus on intensive basic English language skills or content-based English language skills. The ESL teacher will also work with the EL students’ content and classroom teachers to modify instruction to assist the student.