English as a Second Language
The Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Public Schools English Learner Program will provide services to identified English Learners (ELs) in grades K-12 to assist them in achieving the basic program goals. The Michigan English Language Proficiency Standards will provide the foundation for English language acquisition and the academic development of identified ELs in the district. The school district is aware that second language acquisition, beyond basic communication skills, that allows ELs to learn academic content using English may take between five and ten years. It is understood that this time frame can also be impacted by the student’s previous educational and social experiences.
Several different program components will combine to provide a program that meets the needs of all identified ELs in the district. Components will range from placement of the ELs in the regular classroom with Sheltered Instruction strategies implemented by the classroom teacher to more intensive language instruction from a certified teacher with an endorsement in English as a Second Language (ESL). The design of the program will be flexible each year according to the numbers and levels of students enrolled at each building in the district. In addition to instruction by regular and specialized teaching staff, students may receive additional support from Title I, Title III, Section 31a, and Section 41 support staff, aides, and paraprofessionals; tutors, and volunteers.
GRADES K-5: STRUCTURED ENGLISH IMMERSION (SEI) MODEL
Immigrant, Basic, and Low Intermediate students are placed in an English immersion classroom. This is a transitional program whereby students will be mainstreamed into a regular classroom based on formative and summative assessments, WIDA proficiency, NWEA, MLPP, and/or STAR Reading performance scores. Supplemental support is also provided by Title I, Title III, Section 31a, and Section 41 support teachers pushing into the regular classrooms.
TRANSITIONING FROM IMMERSION (SEI MODEL)
In order for a student to transition from the SEI classroom, they must be screened by the bilingual or ESL endorsed teacher. There will be multiple units of measurements for oral language proficiency and foundational literacy skills.
GRADES 6-12: ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL) MODEL
English Learners (ELs) receive a minimum of two opportunities (i.e. hours) of ELA instruction from certified ESL endorsed teachers or those pursuing an ESL endorsement. In addition, bilingual support teachers are assigned to each of these classrooms. Supplemental language and academic support is also provided by Title I, Title III, Section 31a, and Section 41 support staff pushing into their other core classes. Their assessments come through various common assessments, WIDA proficiency, NWEA, BRI, and/or STAR performance scores.
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the English as a Second Language (ESL) Program in the Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Public Schools is to provide instruction in English as well as academic support to students who have difficulty reading, writing, speaking, and listening to and comprehending English, enabling them to become successful in the regular classroom, the overall school environment, and the community.
Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Public Schools seeks to provide every child, regardless of national origin or native language, quality and meaningful educational instruction. Consequently, students who are English Learners (ELs) are provided instructional services through an English as a Second Language (ESL) Program, which is designed to meet their unique needs.