As allowed by State regulation, CCSD offers Content-Based ESL and Dual Language programs at the elementary level. At the secondary level, CCSD offers Intensive English and Sheltered-Content ESL. The goals of all of these programs are: (1) to help ELL students achieve comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing competence in the English language; (2) to enable students to maintain grade level status; and (3) to enable students to meet graduation standards. Below is a description of each instructional program, where the program is available, the resources needed, and the necessary qualifications for staff.
As defined by State regulation, an ESL program is one that “provides instruction in the English language and other courses of study using teaching techniques for acquiring English, and . . . incorporates the cultural aspects of the pupil’s experience in his instruction.” CCSD offers two types of ESL programs at the elementary level – Content-Based Integrated and Content-Based Self-Contained. (See NAC 388.615)
The goal of both the Content-Based Integrated and Content-Based Self-Contained approaches is the acquisition of English and grade level academics so that the ELL student can succeed in an English-only classroom. Both approaches have the following features:
Many teachers and administrators in the district have received intensive training in High Quality Sheltered Instruction (HQSI) strategies and techniques using the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) components. The eight components that comprise this best practice ESL instruction are beneficial to the English language development of ELL students.
The possible classroom configurations could consist of the following:
Self-Contained ESL Classrooms: The principal assigns only ELL students to Self-Contained classrooms. ELL students are grouped together for their core subjects, but have the opportunity to interact with other students in music, art, physical education, library and lunch. Lessons are planned according to students’ English language proficiency levels.
Integrated 50/50 ESL Classrooms: The principal assigns approximately an equal proportion of students who need ELL services to native English speakers. English is taught to ELL students through content areas by including a strong English language development component. Emphasis is on cooperative learning and use of English-speaking role models, hands-on activities, visuals, demonstrations, and modeling.
Integrated “Group” Classrooms: If a school or a grade has a low number of ELL students, the principal shall group students in a classroom at the appropriate grade level and will ensure that ELL strategies are used in the classroom.
Depending on the number of ELL students at an elementary school, the District shall ensure that one or more of the ESL approaches described above are available. Based on the guidelines below, principals will make a determination regarding which approach will be used in consultation with the Superintendent or his designee, the Deputy Superintendent of Student Support Services, and the Director of the English Language Learner Program.
Generally, schools or grade levels with a low number of ELL students should group students and place them in an integrated grouped classroom model where ESL instructional strategies are employed. Schools or grade levels with a large number of ELL students shall implement Self-Contained ESL classrooms or Integrated ESL Classrooms. An Integrated 50/50 ESL classroom shall have an approximately equal number of students who need ELL services and students who are native English speakers. Self-Contained classes shall include ELL students only.
Dual Language Programs are programs in which native English speakers and English Language Learners are grouped in classrooms and learn literacy skills in both English and Spanish. Students are shared between two teachers, one delivering instruction in English and the other in Spanish. Students acquire academic and social vocabulary in both languages.
The goals of the Dual Language Program are:
Students in the program are learning language through content-based instruction. English as a Second Language (ESL) strategies as well as Spanish as a Second Language (SSL) strategies are utilized in the classroom. Academic content core curriculum is presented through a 50/50 Dual Language Program model with half of the instructional time delivered in English and half of the instructional time delivered in Spanish. Lessons are not translated when switching from one language to the other, rather, students learn language through parallel content. The classroom environments are language rich, always supporting the language development of students by using realia, manipulatives, graphs, models, visual aides, and technology.
This program is currently offered in select schools in three regions. The Superintendent or his designee, the Deputy Superintendent of Student Support Services, Region Superintendents, and the Director of the ELLP shall determine if a school will offer the Dual Language Program.
For schools that do not have the Dual Language Program throughout all the grade levels, a Content-Based ESL program model with Self-Contained, Integrated 50/50 or Integrated classrooms is offered in conjunction with the Dual Language Program.
At the secondary level the Sheltered Content Model is recommended.
Many teachers and administrators in the district have received intensive training in High Quality Sheltered Instruction (HQSI) strategies and techniques using the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) components. The eight components that comprise this best practice ESL instruction are beneficial to the English Language Development of ELL students.
The Sheltered Content ESL Instruction Model is an integrated content language approach. The goal of the Sheltered Content Instruction Model is for ELL students to develop English language skills in content classes. Secondary ELL students have a limited time to become academically proficient in English. Therefore, they must learn both English and academic content as quickly as possible. English is taught through content areas by including a strong language development component. The purpose of the language development component is to teach English language learners to communicate (listen, speak, read, and write) in English. This component takes into account the ELL student’s current English language proficiency level and guides the teacher in providing the appropriate instruction for each level. This model is implemented at the secondary level in both self-contained and integrated classrooms. A self-contained classroom consists of only ELL students grouped together for instruction. An integrated classroom consists of students who need ELL services and native English speakers. At the high school level, this model also allows students to earn credit toward graduation in required core subject areas. Emphasis is on cooperative learning, hands-on activities, visuals, demonstrations, modeling and sheltered vocabulary.