English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

Charles County Public Schools is committed to:

• increasing the English proficiency of English Learners (ELs) by providing high-quality language instruction educational programs aligned with scientifically researched programs that are determined to be effective in increasing English proficiency and student academic achievement.
   
• providing high-quality professional development to classroom teachers (including teachers in classroom settings that are not the setting of language instruction educational programs), principals and other school leaders, administrators, and other school or community-based organizational personnel or community-based organizational personnel.
   
• providing community participation programs, family literacy services, and parent outreach and training activities to EL children and their families. In 2003, Maryland’s Parent Advisory Council (M-PAC) was established with the purpose of creating a long-term vision and plan for increasing involvement in public schools. Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has already implemented many of the recommendations to include EL families.

Instructional Services

• ELs in Kindergarten meet with an ESOL teacher for 30 minutes once a week.
• ELs in first to eighth grades meet with an ESOL teacher for 30 minutes twice a week.
• High school ELs meet with an ESOL teacher daily for a 45- to 50-minute period as part of the Secondary Academy of International Languages (SAIL).

Permission for Services

• The parent/guardian must give permission for direct ESOL services every year on the Notification of Placement form.
  Notification of Placement in ESOL Program
• If the parent/guardian chooses to waive services, the Parent Request for Refusal/Waiver of ESOL Services form is completed. The original will be kept in the International Registration Office (IRO) and a copy is kept in the EL’s ESOL folder. If the EL waiving services has an ELP of less than 3.0, an in person or phone conference with the parent, ESOL teacher, and an ESOL specialist is required.

Assessment and Exiting

• The English Language Proficiency (ELP) of each EL is assessed with the ACCESS for ELLs 2.0, which is a yearly, summative assessment produced by World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA).
• An EL exits the ESOL Program when he/she scores a 4.5 on the ACCESS for ELLs 2.0. Upon exiting the ESOL Program, the EL becomes a Reclassified EL (REL). RELs are monitored for two years by the ESOL teacher to ensure continuing academic success.