Multilingual Learners

Determining Eligibility for ELL Services

• When you register your child for school, use the Home Language Survey to share that a language other than English is spoken at home
• Once your child arrives at school, teachers will measure their English proficiency, with the English language proficiency assessment tool from WIDA.
• If your child transferred from another school district and was already qualified as an English Learner, that will transfer. 

• English Language Learner (ELL) Definition:  The term English Language Learner (ELL), as used here, indicates a person who is in the process of acquiring English, whether they are fluent in another language or not.  Other terms commonly found in the literature include language minority students, Limited English Proficient (LEP), English as a Second Language (ESL), and culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD).

• What is the difference between listening/speaking skills and reading/writing skills?  The level of English proficiency needed for daily oral face-to-face communication (listening and speaking) is referred to as Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills, or BICS.  It takes most students from two to four years to develop BICS proficiency.

  The level of English proficiency needed for academic learning (reading and writing) is referred to as Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency, or CALP.  It takes most students from five to seven years to develop CALP proficiency.

  Even though your child may be orally fluent in English, he or she may still not be academically prepared to compete in an all English classroom.  Our ELL program carefully structures the development of both oral and academic language in a stress-free environment while considering the student's cultural background.  

• ACSD serves multilingual students currently representing 18 different languages in all.  This represents a form of diversity that we value as a learning community.  Multilingual Learner teachers, KC Carr and Will Chapman-Hale, have served this small but growing population in ACSD since 2009 and 2010, respectively.   

• What is the ML program?  The ML  program of Addison Central School District serves culturally and linguistically diverse students whose native language is not English, who have another language spoken in their home, or who come from an environment where a language other than English has had a significant impact on the individual's level of English language proficiency.  The goal of the program is to provide students with the English and academic skills they need to be successful, active participants in the local community.

  The elementary ML program is a content-based, intensive language instructional pull-out model, which utilizes collaboration between the ML certified teacher and the regular education classroom teacher.

  The secondary ML program is a combination of a pull-out and content course model.  Grade level objectives may be delivered by either the classroom teachers with ML support or through modified instruction.   

• Why choose ELL services for your child?  

  • ELL services are provided as an extra support for students by a teacher trained in recognizing and dealing with linguistic and cultural differences.
  • Studies show that students who receive consistent ELL services attain proficiency more quickly and perform better academically than those who don't.
  • ELL instruction can help prepare students for the type of specialized English needed for reading textbooks and for the type of writing that is required in science, language arts, and social studies coursework.

• Federal law mandates that we identify and assess all potential ELL students.  In ACSD potential ELL students are identified by at least one of the following:

  • Vermont Agency of Education Primary Home Language Survey indicating a language other than English (included in ACSD's common registration form).
  • Teacher or parent recommendation.
  • Evidence of ELL services from another U.S. school.
  • A country of birth other than the U.S.

  Potential ELLs are assessed for program eligibility using the WIDA ACCESS screener or prior ACCESS scores.

Communicating with Your Child’s School

In ACSD, we encourage all parents to be a part of their children’s education by communicating with their children’s school, teachers, and the district.  This includes parents who speak a language other than English. If you are more comfortable speaking a language other than English, ACSD now has several different ways for you to access information in your preferred language, as well as new ways to contact faculty and staff in your preferred language.  All translation and interpretation will be at no cost to you.

Talking Points for Text Messages
Talking Points connects teachers and parents via text messaging.  Teachers or the ML Teacher set up the account at the beginning of the year, and then both teachers and parents can communicate directly in each person’s native language.   If you would like to use text messaging but have not received an invitation from your child’s teacher, please email KC Carr (kcarr@acsdvt.org) or Will Chapman-Hale (wchapmanhale@acsdvt.org) with your name, phone number, child’s name, and preferred language and they will help you set this up.

ACSD Website
ACSD’s web pages can be translated by Google Translate.  At the top of the page, look for the box that says “Select Language” and choose your language.

Athletics
Signing up your child for athletics at the middle school or high school is a great way for you and your child to be more involved in the school community.  Our online sign-up service is not available in multiple languages at this time. However, we can help you register your child for sports. If your child would like to play a sport, please contact your child's ML teacher or .  IMPORTANT: Fall sports start in the summer, so if your child would like to play a sport, please call as soon as possible!  

PowerSchool
You can select your preferred language when signing on to PowerSchool.  This will allow you to access your child’s grades in a language that works for you. You can choose your language when you sign in.  If you need help, please email KC Carr (kcarr@acsdvt.org) or Will Chapman-Hale (wchapmanhale@acsdvt.org) with your name, phone number, and language, and they will help you set this up.

Written Translations
ACSD has contracts with translators for communication that is all-district or all-school.  If you receive something from your school or ACSD that is not translated and you would like translation or interpretation services, please call 802-382-1278, and a school staff member will help you set this up.

A Note To School
ACSD has also produced a Multilingual Note to School so that parents can send quick notes from home.  One should be included with this guide. If you would like to order more notepads, please call 802-382-1278.  At this time, the notepad is available in Spanish and Chinese.

School Closings
If there is a school closing, you will receive a phone call with the alert.  IMPORTANT: Please make sure the phone number you have provided to the school is up-to-date and accurate.  School closings are also posted on the ACSD website, which can be translated using the Google Translate function.  

You can also find school closing on local radio and tv stations:

• WVTK – 92.1 FM – Middlebury
• KISS – 97.1 FM – Rutland
• WPTZ-TV 5 – Plattsburgh
• WEZF – 92.9 FM - Burlington
• WOKO - 98.9 FM – Burlington
• WVNY-TV 22 – Burlington
• WJJR - 98.1 FM – Rutland
• WCAX TV 3- Burlington