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Title III - ESOL Programs

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ESOL Program

 

Mission Statement

Jefferson City School District's English to Speakers of Other Languages Program (ESOL) mission is to help ensure the English language development and academic success of English Learners (ELs). The ESOL Program aims to work with all teachers at all grade levels and administrators of ELs to provide high-quality instructional programs designed to develop proficiency in English while meeting challenging State academic content and student academic achievement standards. The ESOL program seeks to create supportive learning environments in classroom(s) that value and build on students' academic, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds.

The Georgia Department of Education provides the following guidelines for identifying students who may be identified as an English Language Learner (ELL):

  • Students whose native/home/first language is other than English
  • Students who have difficulty listening, speaking, reading, writing, or understanding the English language to the extent that their language skills are a barrier to their success in meeting academic achievement standards.
     

Belief

All ELs will succeed and have equal access to opportunities to achieve academic excellence.


Program Goals

  • The nationally acclaimed WIDA Standards and Can Do Descriptors govern the EL program and assist teachers with understanding what can be expected of students based on their scores on the ACCESS test. Every regular education teacher of EL students is required to participate in training in these two areas.
  • Language acquisition develops through stages in the areas of listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
  • Students are assessed yearly, in February, with the ACCESS test. W-APT or ACCESS exams are used to determine the level and type of assistance needed by each student.
     

Core Values

  • Focused programs, practices, and efforts to ensure the successful development of English language proficiency and access to state content standards
  • Committed partnerships with teachers, administrators, and parents to ensure EL students' academic success
  • Hard work and a strong sense of commitment and responsibility
  • Compliance with Title III and federal laws and SBOE Rule 160-4-5-.02 Language Assistance: Program for English Learners (ELs)

 

Funding

Title III is a federally funded program that provides eligible Local Education Agencies with funding to supplement ESOL services already in place.