Ensuring Success for English Language Learners What Parents

Ensuring Success for English Language Learners: What Parents Should Know Developed by New York State United Teachers 2017, NYSUT Education & Learning Trust, its affiliates and assigns and licensors. All rights reserved. No claim to copyright is made for original U. S. Government Works.

Agenda • Process for ELL Identification • What school districts are required to provide while your child is learning English • What to do if you have questions or concerns • Other resources available to you 2

Stand Up If… • You have _____ child(ren). • You have a child in _____ School. • If you speak ____ language(s). 3

This session will focus on the valuable information provided in this guide for parents of English language learners Introduction 4

“When parents and educators work together, children will reach their fullest potential. ” Introduction 5

Process for Identification for English as a New Language Services Home Language Questionnaire (HLQ) Individual Interview with Student with an IEP reviewed by Language Proficiency Team (LPT) Initial ELL Identification (NYSITELL) Determination of SIFE Status Parent Notification of ELL Identification and Orientation Session Program Placement (Parent notification and agreement) Review of ELL Identification Determination 6

Bilingual Instructional Programs • Must be provided when there are 20 or more students: • At the same grade level • Who speak the same home language • At least 15 students enrolled in the cohort grade in a bilingual program from the previous year • If not available in your school, you may request a transfer to a school in the district that offers your program of choice and transportation will be provided for your child • If you don’t want your child in a bilingual program, s/he will automatically be placed in an English as a New Language program 7

English as a New Language Services ELL Proficiency Level Grades K-8 Minutes of ENL Instruction Grades 9 -12 Minutes of ENL Instruction Entering 360 min per week • Stand-alone ENL and • ENL Integrated ENL/ELA 540 min per week • Stand-alone ENL and • ENL Integrated ENL/ELA AND • Integrated ENL/content area or Stand-alone ENL Emerging 360 min per week • Stand-alone ENL and • Integrated ENL/ELA and • Integrated ENL/content area or Stand-alone ENL Transitioning 180 min per week • Integrated ENL/ELA and • Integrated ENL/content area or Stand-alone ENL 180 min per week • Integrated ENL/ELA and • Integrated ENL/content area or stand-alone ENL 180 min per week • Integrated ENL/ELA or another content area 180 min per week • Integrated ENL/content area Expanding 8

Testing Accommodations English language learners are entitled to: • Use of a bilingual dictionary or glossary • Extra time to take test • Separate testing location (either small group or alone) • Subject tests translated into home language (when available) • Spoken or oral translations of subject tests if no translated version While exempt from NYS English Language Arts exam within first year, ELLs will take New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test (NYSESLAT) every year in spring 9

Home-School Communication • Any information the school sends to you must be in your preferred language, including: • Report cards • Newsletters • Test results • You may request to have the information explained to you in your preferred language • Teachers at your child’s school must meet with you at least twice a year to understand the educational program and your child’s progress • Ask about other educational and cultural resources available to families in your community 10

Once Child Tests Out of ENL Services • When child reaches Commanding level on the NYSESLAT, s/he will receive the following services for two years: • At least 90 minutes of Integrated ENL/ELA or another content area • Monitoring of language development • Subject area support • Testing accommodations on all state exams • Your child may receive the following, even after the two years: • Reading or Academic Intervention Services (AIS) • Extra help before or after school • Counseling services 11

Questions or Concerns • About your child’s academic progress, contact… • Your child’s teacher • The school counselor • If you think your child was misidentified and does not need ENL instruction, you may make a request in writing to review your child’s English language skills to… • the ENL or Bilingual program director • The school principal • If you are still concerned about your child’s ENL or Bilingual services, you may also contact… • NYS ELL Parent Hotline at 800 -469 -8224 12

Resources New York Stated Education Department Bilingual Education and English as a New Language ELL/MLL Parent Resources ¡Colorín colorado! A bilingual site for families of English language learners 13