Understanding Multilingual Students

The last time ELs were a part of our site data, we had only 29 students. This year we will be testing 64 students. Additionally, our total school population is growing! This will make a greater impact on our site data. Please help us ensure all students get to their testing location May 10-13.

English Learner Program

GOHS English Learners are placed according to their ELPAC level.

ELPAC 1 & 2 - will have ELD with Mr. Horton plus grade level English with other ELPAC level 1 or 2 students.

ELPAC 3 - may have ELD with Mr. Horton, if needed, and have a Sheltered English teacher where they are clustered with other ELPAC 3 and 4 students in a mainstream English class.

ELPAC 4 - have a Sheltered English teacher where they are clustered with other ELPAC 4 and 3 students in a mainstream English class.

All students are mainstreamed in content area classes where content is delivered in English.

How are English Learners Identified?

At the time of enrollment, California public schools are required to determine the language(s)

spoken in the home for each student. Parents/legal guardians are required to complete, sign and date a Home Language Survey (HLS) for their child. If a child speaks English only in the home, the child is placed in a regular mainstream general education classroom. If a student’s HLS indicates a primary home language other than English, the student will be given the ELPAC initial assessment within 30 days. The HLS remains on file for each student in the district. The information will assist schools in providing appropriate instruction for all students.

Long-Term English Learners (LTEL)

Characteristics of these students MAY include:

7 or more years in U.S. schools
Orally fluent in English
Levels of reading and writing proficiency that are well below grade level
Scores of “Not Meeting Standards” or “Nearly Meeting Standards” on the CAASP English Language Arts standards-based achievement test
Frequently limited literacy in primary language
Mismatch between student perception of achievement (high) and grades (low)
Some may get adequate grades, but have low test scores
Often lag behind in meeting grade level standards
Same English language proficiency level for 2 or more consecutive years

The students among this growing sub-group of identified English Learners often demonstrate

native like oral fluency in English yet for a variety of reasons they are not yet achieving levels of

academic proficiency in reading and writing. They often fail to score high enough on standardized tests and/or district benchmark assessments to meet reclassification requirements.

If additional support is needed, the students may be placed in interventions and receive supplemental support from specialists on site.

Reclassification

Currently the district requirements to reclassify a student from English Learner to Redesignated Fluent English Proficient are as follows:

Step 1: ELPAC Score of 4

Step 2: Pass ELA CAASPP with a 3 or 4 - if this is met, then there's no need to meet further data points

If ELA CAASPP score is below a 3, the student must have

Passing scores ELA District Benchmarks or District Final Exams
Passing grades in ELA and most core content areas

Step 3: ELA Teacher sign off

Step 4: Parent agreement that student should be redesignated.

Step 5: District agreement that student should be redesignated.

EL Monitoring

English Learners and those redesignated (RFEP) within the last four years are required by state law to be monitored for academic performance and achievement.

Monitoring of grades and academic performance occurs every four weeks.

Monitoring of attendance and behavior occurs every six weeks within LCAP monitoring at GOHS.

Useful EL Acronyms

EO - English Only - A student who doesn't speak a language other than English
EL - English Learner - A student whose primary language is not English, and is still acquiring the English Language in the areas of Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.
RFEP- Reclassified or Redesignated Fluent English Proficient - This student was enrolled in the EL Program, passed the ELPAC, is proficient in his/her English Language Arts classes and benchmark assessments, and may had passed the CAASPP (depending upon grade level)
1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Year Monitoring - a student reclassified (RFEP) out of English Learner program with in the last four years. Schools are mandated to monitor to four years following RFEP.
IFEP - Initially Fluent English Proficient - This student was identified for testing on the Home Language Survey, but tested proficient in the English Language in the areas of Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.