Welcome. Birukti Ethiopia 3 rd Grade. Office of ELL Services Malden Public Schools 3

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3 Welcome Welcome to the Malden Public Schools! The Malden Public Schools has a diverse population and currently services students from a variety of countries including Brazil, China, Haiti, India, Korea, Laos, Portugal, Vietnam, several Arabic speaking countries, Africa, and several Spanish-speaking countries. The Malden Public Schools is committed to offering the highest quality of educational services to all students, including English language learners. The Office of ELL Services administers programs for English language learners with the goal of developing English language proficiency and achieving state content-area standards, while simultaneously valuing their native languages and cultural backgrounds. Birukti Ethiopia 3 rd Grade 3

4 Mission The mission of the Malden Public Schools programs for English language learners is to enable students of limited English proficiency to develop the linguistic, cognitive, cultural, and self-concept skills necessary for success in the Malden Public Schools and beyond. The students will accomplish this development in an atmosphere of understanding, cooperation, and support. 4

5 Educational Philosophy English language learners required the ability to understand, speak, read, and write English with near native fluency to realize their potential within the English speaking society. 1. The most successful programs are those that develop a positive self-concept in each student, while they continue to develop their English proficiency. 2. Teachers should have high expectations of all students, regardless of the students background or academic preparation. 3. Teachers must help students in adjusting to cultural, language, and attitudinal differences. 4. Students in heterogeneous groupings learn from each other as well as from the teacher. Yash India Kindergarten 5. The ability to speak more than one language is a valuable asset, and one that should be recognized as such. 5

6 Benefits of Knowing Two Languages Andrea Dominican Republic Kindergarten Malden Public Schools programs for English language learners promote mastery of the English language in a culturally and linguistically sensitive environment. However, it is important not to neglect a students first language. Continuing to develop native language at home does not interfere with English language acquisition. In fact, the research shows that it helps the process of learning English. There are many benefits of knowing more than one language. Economically, there is an increased demand for bilingual employees throughout the world. Socially, the United States is a diverse society with many languages and cultures represented. In addition, research shows that knowing more than one language increases a person s thinking abilities. Bilingual students have greater cognitive flexibility, and that flexibility can transfer into academic success. 6

7 Structured English Immersion Program: Grades K-8 Students in grades K-8 are beginners and early intermediate in their English language development will be placed in a self-contained English immersion classroom. The program is located at the Salemwood School. The Ferryway and Beebe School also have programs for students in grades K-3. All students in the class are English language learners. The teacher in the classroom holds a teaching certificate to work with students who are learning English as a second language. Materials are specifically selected to accelerate English language learning. Teachers make use of strategies that sheltered the content instruction so that students are learning content but also learning English. Students who are high intermediate to almost fluent in English will be placed in an integrated structured English immersion program. The class composition is a mix of ELLs and native English speakers. All K-8 schools have designated an integrated SEI classroom at each grade level. Staff have gone or will go through professional development training to work with English language learners. Materials are the same as those used with regular education students. English as a second language support by a licensed ESL teacher is provided when appropriate. 7

8 Malden High School Program Offerings Andy China 5 th Grade English language learners at Malden High School receive two periods each day for English as a second language instruction. Beginning students might also receive a United States history and science class specifically designed to meet the needs of students with little English. The teacher is certified to teach students who are learning English as a second language. Four levels of ESL are provided at the high school. Students receive math, science, and history instruction from teachers who are have gone or will go through professional development training to work with English Language Learners. 8

9 Student Registration When registering, families are asked to complete a home language survey to help identify English language learners for proper placement. If the survey indicates that another language is spoken at home or by the students and/or by the family, an appointment will be made for the students to be assessed to determine if the student needs support in learning English. There are a variety of tests available to assess language proficiency that may be used. The tests are carefully chosen to be developmentally, linguistically, culturally, and age appropriate. These assessments are used to determine all the ways English is used at school-reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Placement recommendations take into consideration all these areas of language proficiency and are not solely made on the ability to speak English. Soune Haiti 6 th Grade Parents will be notified about the results of the any tests administered and in which program the Office of ELL Services recommends for student placement. 9

10 Waivers If a family believes that the student should be placed in a program other than that which the Office of ELL Services recommends, the family has the right to request a waiver for alternative placement. The alternative placement may be for a bilingual education program or for a general education program. The Office of ELL Services may request a meeting to discuss placement and to ensure that the student is placed in a program that will increase both academic content area and English language services. 10

11 Monitoring and Exiting Students from Programs The Office of ELL Services established a monitoring and placement system for all students enrolled in its programs. A team of teachers meets twice a year to assess progress of all students in the program to make placement or exit recommendations. This team includes the classroom teacher, the ESL teacher, literacy coaches, and principals. Temesgen Ethiopia 4 th Grade The team compiles assessment and classroom performance data, social adjustment information, and language and academic skills acquisition to make an informed recommendation about services and placement. The team does not make decisions to exit students from programs until those students have fulfilled the necessary criteria to function successfully in a monolingual setting. 11

12 Nondiscrimination Amrit India 3 rd Grade The Malden Public Schools does not discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, veteran s status, sexual orientation or disability in admission to, access to, treatment in or employment in its programs and activities. The Malden Public Schools has designated Nancy Kassabian, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, as the school s equity officer for students, vested with the authority and responsibility of processing all complaints of discrimination. 12

13 Civil Rights Families of English language learner and parents who are English language learners themselves are entitled to certain civil rights regarding language services. Families are entitled to receive school information in a language that is comprehensible to them. This means that if you speak Spanish, you are entitled to receive school notices (Including report cards, assessment reports, teacher communications, etc.) in Spanish. Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act requires that English language learners be provided language support services until they are proficient enough in English to participate meaningfully in the districts education program. Title VI does not permit a limitation on the amount of time a student can receive language support services. Students are exited from programs for English language learners once the students have demonstrated an ability to participate meaningfully in the general education program, as monitored by the Language Assessment Teams at each school. No school personnel have the right to ask about your visa status or for your social securing number. Federal lunch forms request social security numbers, but families can indicate that they don t have one. 13

14 Assessment The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the federal government require a variety of assessments be administered to students. In addition, Malden Public Schools administers additionally assessments that help the teachers determine the needs of students and support in targeting instruction to these needs. Brandon Peru 1 st Grade English Language Proficiency Assessments MELA-O (Massachusetts English Language Assessment-Oral) administered to students in grades K-12. The level will help determine a students level of English oral language. MEPA (Massachusetts English Proficiency Assessment) administered to students in grades K-12. The level will help determine English reading and writing development. 14

15 Academic Assessments Administered to All Students MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) is administered to students in grades 3-8 and grade 10 in English and in math. Teacher Qualifications Sheltered English Immersion and English as a Second Language teachers have licenses in ESL and have undergone specific educational training in sheltered instruction techniques and strategies. Adeline Haiti 3 rd Grade 15

16 Department Administrative Personnel Dr. Margaret Adams Director of Literacy and Language Acquisition Responsible for the supervision of the ELL department including evaluation and hiring of personnel, staff development and training, parent involvement, program budget, and coordination with other departments. Her office is located at Malden City Hall at 200 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA Her telephone number is or you can her at Pat Fish Family Involvement Coordinator Responsible for supporting families in becoming involved in the education of their children. Her office is at the Ferryway School at 150 Cross Street Malden, MA Her telephone number is or you can her at 16

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