English Learners

The MSD of Decatur Township English Learners (EL) Program is designed for students whose home language is something other than English. The district is committed to the academic and social growth of English learners while also respecting and honoring the language and rich culture the students and their families bring. Over the past ten (10) years, the EL population has gradually increased from 57 students with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) in the 2005-06 school year to more than 450 currently with over 20 languages represented in the district. The EL staff members in each building use a combination of push-in and pull-out services to support the students’ needs and engage students in all domains of language acquisition (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) through individualized accommodations and specialized instruction according to their Individual Learning Plans (ILPs). All teachers supporting ELs in the district use the WIDA English Language Development (ELD) standards in combination with the Indiana Academic Standards to ensure the language and content needs of the students are met.

The WIDA English Development Standards:

 

Standard

Abbreviation

ELD Standard 1

English language learners communicate for Social and Instructional purposes within the school setting

Social and Instructional language

ELD Standard 2

English language learners communicate information, ideas and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of Language Arts

The language of Language Arts

ELD Standard 3

English language learners communicate information, ideas and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of Mathematics

The language of Mathematics

ELD Standard 4

English language learners communicate information, ideas and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of Science

The language of Science

ELD Standard 5

English language learners communicate information, ideas and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of Social Studies

The language of Social Studies

Federal law requires that all students identified as ELLs be assessed annually for English language proficiency, including students who receive special education services. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA; 2004) also mandates that students with disabilities participate in state-wide and district-wide assessment programs, including alternate assessments with appropriate accommodations, when it is documented in their Individualized Education Programs (IEP). For this reason, WIDA created the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs to meet federal accountability requirements and to provide educators with a measure sensitive to English language proficiency growth of ELLs with significant cognitive disabilities.

For more information about the WIDA standards and/or assessments, please visit: www.wida.us.

For more information about the MSD of Decatur Township EL Department, please contact:

Shannon Preda, Administrative Assistant for English Language Learners
317-856-5265