Post Falls School District is committed to ensuring the EL students identified; a) Attain English Proficiency within the Department of Education guidelines of five years of their initial enrollment, b) develop high levels of academic attainment in core subject areas as measured by grades, attendance and graduation goals, c) meet the same challenging state academic standards as measured by IRI on grade level and ISAT 2.0 proficiency.
The Post Falls School District identifies possible EL students through registration cards that identify the first language spoken by the student; by parent or teacher referral and confirmed through a Home Language Survey. A student may be considered for EL services, if they have a home language other than English and test below the proficient level for English language acquisition on a state-approved test.
Post Falls School District accurately qualifies and places eligible EL students in a Language Instruction Educational Program (LIEP) within 30 days using the statewide standardized entrance criteria and process.
EL Qualifications:
In Idaho an EL student is classified according to the following Federal government definition as described in Public Law 107-110 of NCLB:
a. who is aged 3 through 21
b. who is enrolled or preparing to enroll in an elementary school or secondary school;
(i.) who was not born in the United States or whose native language is a language other than English; and who comes from an environment where a language other than English is dominant -
OR -
(ii.) who is a Native American or Alaska Native, or a native resident of outlying areas; and who comes from an environment where a language other than English has had a significant impact on the individual's level of English language proficiency; -
OR -
(iii.) who is migratory, whose native language is a language other than English, and who comes from an environment where a language other than English is dominant; -
AND -
c. whose difficulties speaking, reading, writing or understanding the English language may be sufficient to deny the individual
(i.) the ability to meet the State's proficiency level of achievement on State assessments described in section 1111(b)(3);
(ii.) the ability to achieve successfully in classrooms where the language of instruction is English; -
OR -
(iii.) the opportunity to participate fully in society. (P.L. 107-110, Title IX, Part A, Sec. 9101, (25)
EL Services:
The educational approach that addresses the linguistic needs for EL students is teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) following the World Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) standards. At the secondary level highly individualized instruction is given in a regularly scheduled structured class setting for one instructional period a day.
In the elementary grades, the educational approach consists of ESP pull out three or four days/week for one instructional period and structured English immersion in conjunction with supporting specialists' services (Title 1, Speech and Language, Remediation or Special Education) as appropriate in the student's assigned school.
For further information regarding EL services please contact:
Brad Harmon
208-457-0772
brad.harmon@sd273.com
