English Learners

Our population of English Learners continues to grow. In 2004, the number of students served by our program was 62. In 2012, we began the school year with 325 ELs. This year we are serving nearly 1000 active EL students and monitoring the progress of over 200 former ELs. These students attend school at all three of our campuses, from kindergarten through the 12th grade.

They come from many different countries throughout the world. These include: Benin, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Congo, the Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Mauritania, Mexico, Micronesia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Peru, Rwanda, Senegal, Togo, Venezuela, and Vietnam. Many of the students were actually born in the United States but live in homes where languages other than English are spoken. About 67% speak Spanish and 4% speak Nepali, while the remainder speak over 30 different languages, including Awakatek, French, Twi, Fulani, Mam, Swahili and Pohnpeian. Some of them speak English with a high degree of proficiency; others are just beginning to learn the basics.

Research shows that it takes second language learners two to three years to learn basic interpersonal communicative skills (BICS) and five to seven years to achieve cognitive academic language proficiency (CALP) if they have had two to three years of first language schooling in their native country (Jim Cummins, 1981). If the student has not had schooling in his/her first language, it can take seven to ten years or more to attain CALP (Virginia Collier, 1995).

Our mission is to provide English Learners of every background and proficiency level with high-quality instruction in the acquisition of English as a second language (ESL) and sheltered instruction in the mainstream classroom, with appropriate modifications and accommodations to ensure that they develop the English language skills necessary to succeed academically and socially in the United States.

The district employs 16 TESOL-endorsed/licensed teachers to teach ESL content following the Ohio English Language Proficiency Standards and 14 ESL tutors and assistants who work with the ESL teachers to support English Learners' development of English proficiency.

RESOURCES

 Advancing Ohio's English Learners

For Families

For Teachers/Administrators