English Language Learners Program Services
The Washington Elementary School District adheres to applicable federal rules, regulations and Arizona statutes. The program services that are being offered for English Language Learners under the authority of the Supreme Court ruling Lau v. Nichols, the federal court ruling, Flores v. Arizona, Proposition 203 (English Language Education for Children in Public Schools), and HB 2064. Current Arizona statutes, A.R.S. §15-751 through 15-756, outline the requirements for the instruction of English language learners.
Students who have a primary home language other than English are assessed using the Arizona English Language Learner Assessment (AZELLA) to determine their level of English language proficiency. Students who are not yet proficient are eligible for placement in one of the program models authorized by the Arizona English Language Learner Task Force. The models include:
Structured English Immersion Program
The Structured English Immersion Program means an intensive English language program for students not yet proficient in English. Classroom instruction focuses on English language acquisition in the areas of reading, grammar, oral English and conversation, writing and vocabulary. All classroom instruction is in English designed to accelerate the learning of the English language. Although teachers may use a minimal amount of the child's native language when necessary, no subject matter shall be taught in any language other than English, and children in this program learn to read and write solely in English.
Mainstream Classroom
The English language learner is placed in a Mainstream Classroom with an Individual Language Learning Plan (ILLP) written to detail the manner by which the student receives English language instruction in reading, grammar, oral English and conversation, writing and vocabulary. All classroom instruction is in English designed to accelerate the learning of the English language. Although teachers may use a minimal amount of the child's native language when necessary, no subject matter shall be taught in any language other than English, and children in this program learn to read and write solely in English.
A third option, a bilingual education classroom, is available upon sufficient numbers of waiver requests. Click here for more information regarding the waiver request.
Title III and Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives
Â鶹Íø participates in the federal supplemental program for English language learners through the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, Title III. One of the requirements of this legislation is that districts receive a determination of progress in meeting the Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives (AMAO). There are three components of this measure, two of which are based upon the results of the AZELLA, and the third is tied to the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) Title I measure of No Child Left Behind.
Using the results of the AZELLA, the percent of students making progress, defined as advancing one or more proficiency levels on the test, and the percent of students who are reclassified as English language proficient, state-wide targets are set in making a determination of each district's AMAO status. Washington Elementary School District has consistently exceeded the AMAO making progress and reclassification targets. The third component of the AMAO determination is linked to Title I AYP. Â鶹Íø has not met this measure as English language learners have not met the percent proficient target as measured by Arizona's Instrument to Measure Standards in reading and mathematics. The expectation established through NCLB is that students learning English score at the same level as their English proficient peers.
Please contact Academic Services for more information.
