The Board of Education recognizes the need to provide equal educational opportunities for all
students in the district. Therefore, if the inability to speak and understand the English language
excludes a student from effective participation in the educational programs offered by the district,
the district shall take appropriate action to rectify the English language deficiency in order to provide
the student equal access to its programs. Identifying students who are English language learners
(ELL) and ensuring them equal access to appropriate programs are the first steps to improving their
academic achievement levels.
Definitions
Language Minority (LM) – Refers to a student whose linguistic background, such as country of birth
or home environment, includes languages other than English. Language minority is based solely on
the student’s language background and not on proficiency.
Limited English Proficiency (LEP) – Proficiency in reading, writing, listening or speaking English
that is below grade- and age-level peers. Limited English proficiency is based on the assessment of
a student’s English language proficiency.
English Language Learner – Refers to an LM student with limited English proficiency.
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) – An instructional approach that can include
structured ESOL immersion, content-based ESOL and pull-out ESOL instruction.
1. Structured ESOL immersion involves a bilingual teacher and a self-contained classroom.
2. Content-based ESOL allows the student to remain in the regular classroom and focuses on
delivering content in an adapted English format.
3. Pull-out ESOL periodically removes students from the regular classroom for instruction in
English.
Bilingual Education – An instructional approach that explicitly includes the student’s native
language in instruction. This approach requires an instructor fluent in the student’s native language
and proficient in content areas and is often used where many ELL students share the same language
and where qualified bilingual teachers are available.
Child – Any individual age 3-21.
Parent – Parent, legal guardian or person otherwise responsible for the child.
Language Instruction Education Program – An instructional course in which an ELL child is placed
for the purpose of developing and attaining English proficiency while meeting challenging state
academic achievement standards as required by law. The program may make instructional use of
both English and a child's native language and may include the participation of English proficient
children if such course is designed to enable all participating children to become proficient in
English and a second language.
The district's coordinator for ELL programs is the Director of Special Services.
The Board directs the coordinator to develop and implement language instruction programs that:
1. Identify language minority students through the use of a Student Home Language survey (see
IGBH-AF1). The building administrator will develop procedures to ensure that all new and
currently enrolled students complete the Home Language survey.
2. Identify LM students who are also English language learners. Any student who indicates the
use of a language other than English will be assessed for English proficiency using the state-provided assessment instrument.
3. Determine the appropriate instructional environment for ELL students.
4. Annually assess the English proficiency of ELL students and monitor the progress of students
receiving ESOL or bilingual instruction in order to determine their readiness for the
mainstream classroom environment.
5. Provide parents with notice of and information regarding the instructional program as
required by law. Parental involvement will be encouraged and parents will be regularly
apprised of their child's progress.
* * * * * * *
Note: The reader is encouraged to check the index located at the beginning of this section
for other pertinent policies and to review administrative procedures and/or forms for
related information.
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Adopted: 11/17/1994
Last Revised: 05/15/2008
Cross Refs: AC, Prohibition Against Illegal Discrimination and Harassment
CGC, State and Federal Programs Administration
MSIP Refs: 8.3.1
Legal Refs: Equal Educational Opportunities Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1703(f)
English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement
Act, 20 U.S.C. §§ 6811 - 6871
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d
34 C.F.R. Part 100
Plyler v. Doe, 457 U.S. 202 (1982)
Lau v. Nichols, 414 U.S. 563 (1974)
Castaneda v. Pickard, 648 F.2d 989 (5th Cir.1981)
Salem R-80 School District, Salem, Missouri
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