Multilingual Learners

If the Home Language Survey (HLS) completed at registration indicates a language other than English, a student is screened for ELL services. If a child is identified as an English Language Learner and is placed in the ELL program, an official notification letter is mailed to the parents/guardians within 14 calendar days of a child being placed in the program.

Our ELL program follows an integrated language and content model. Students receive content-based language support from the ELL teacher, classroom teacher(s), and ELL paraprofessional with the goal of accessing content instruction and developing their English language proficiency in all four language domains (i.e., listening, speaking, reading, and writing).

WIDA ACCESS for ELLs is an English language proficiency assessment that measures ELL students’ progress in academic English language acquisition (language of language arts, math, social studies, and science). ELL students take the WIDA ACCESS for ELLs assessment every year until the ELL program exit criteria* are met (see below).

ILP (individualized Learning Plan) is a formal document that is developed for all students identified as English Language Learners. ILPs are designed to outline a plan to ensure ELLs have meaningful access to the same rigorous content and college-and-career-ready standards as their native English-speaking peers.

An ELL student is reclassified as fluent upon achieving English language proficiency as defined by the state English language proficiency assessment. In Indiana, English language proficiency is defined as a 5.0 overall composite score on the annual WIDA ACCESS assessment. Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, students may also meet proficiency if scoring between a 4.3 and 4.9 overall composite on WIDA ACCESS, followed by an additional evidence review by an ILP committee.

• Expose your student to language through reading, singing, storytelling, and conversation.
• Continue to cultivate your student's native language because this helps with the development of English.
• Visit the public library together.
• Make your student's school attendance a priority.
• Provide a quiet space and routine for your student to complete homework and study daily.