English Language Learners

According to federal and state law, students are first identified at registration. If any language other than English is written on the registration form, either spoken in the home or the student's primary language, the student is screened. If their scores qualify, they will be considered EL students and are eligible to receive services.

At the Elementary level, students scoring 4.0 and below on the WIDA (out of a possible 6.0) are provided services for instruction and technology.

Students scoring higher are monitored through their classroom teacher and may be services at the teacher/parent's request. Instruction is targeted to each student's specific language needs.

At the Secondary level, newcomers are identified and enrolled in an EL class, and students are serviced as needed after that.

Most students receive additional small group instruction in the EL room or computer lab in 15-40 minute blocks of time. Sometimes services are provided inside your child's regular classroom on a push-in basis. Other students are monitored to ensure they are achieving academic success. Our goal is to reduce interruptions to the school day while providing appropriate supports to help students attain language proficiency and improve academic performance.

Please see the above list for staff names and positions.

If you do not want your child to receive EL instruction, we encourage you to discuss this with your child's teacher first. Even if your child is scoring well, extra individual/small-group instruction is very beneficial and we work according to the level and pace of each student.

If you do decide to opt out, you simply return the form that was mailed to you at the beginning of the year. If you need another form, please let us know. Should you change your mind and decide to opt-in to service at a later date, you may do so at any time.

Each year, the state gives the WIDA test. In 2021, if a student scored 4.8 overall, they were exited from the EL program and monitored for four years. Students cannot be exited from the EL program without proficiency on the WIDA.

Exited students may be re-entered if they are falling below grade-level. The teacher and EL department will work together to determine whether re-entry is appropriate on a case by case basis.

The WIDA is a state required test given every Spring. Students are assessed in reading, writing, listening, and speaking in English across all content areas.

The 2022 WIDA window for testing begins February 7th and ends March 25th.

Once a student is qualified as an EL, they will remain in Michigan's records until they exit, so if you transfer schools in Michigan, they will still be required to take the WIDA.

Most other states also give the WIDA, or have another state required assessment, so if you do move out of state, they will most likely still be tested until they exit.