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Strategic Interventions for English Learners. Chris Dominguez, Deputy Superintendent Pamela Seki, Director, Program Assistance for Language Minority Students. Long Beach Unified School District. Strategic Interventions for English Learners. Goals: Accelerate English language acquisition
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Strategic Interventions for English Learners Chris Dominguez, Deputy Superintendent Pamela Seki, Director, Program Assistance for Language Minority Students Long Beach Unified School District
Strategic Interventions for English Learners Goals: • Accelerate English language acquisition • Meet academic achievement standards Long Beach Unified School District
Strategic Interventions for English Learners Guiding Approaches: • Data-based Decision-making / Problem Solving • Response to Intervention Adapted from: Response to Intervention: Policy Considerations and Implementation Council of Administrators of Special Education Long Beach Unified School District
Strategic Interventions for English Learners Problem Solving Model: Long Beach Unified School District
Strategic Interventions for English Learners Define the problem . . . Is there a problem? What is it? • Non-strategic / random interventions • Learning gaps not diagnosed • Instruction not differentiated (time and intensity) • Under-utilized supplemental resources Long Beach Unified School District
Strategic Interventions for English Learners Analyze . . . Why is it happening? • Lack of intervention curricula • Site teachers unable / unwilling to work additional hours • Site administrators need technical guidance, assistance to organize comprehensive program Long Beach Unified School District
Strategic Interventions for English Learners Develop a plan . . . What shall we do about it? Consider multi-tier model – Response to Intervention (RtI) • Tier 1 - Core instructional interventions: all students, all settings, preventative & proactive Tier 2 - Targeted Group Interventions: some students, high efficiency, rapid response • Tier 3 - Intensive, individual interventions: individual students, intense, durable procedures Long Beach Unified School District
Strategic Interventions for English Learners Develop a plan . . . What shall we do about it? Supplemental instruction (tier2) for students with poor response to core instructional interventions (tier 1) • Problem-solving interventions • Traditional • Site team uses functional academic and behavioral assessments • Individualized program is designed to address student needs Standard treatment protocol interventions • Evidence-based / standard practices for predictable difficulties • Systematic, structured, scripted - fidelity • Small group delivery Long Beach Unified School District
Strategic Interventions for English Learners Develop a plan . . . What shall we do about it? Select focus group: English learners in grades 6 - 8 • Preponderance of Program Improvement schools • English learners not responding to 4+ years of instruction • Accumulated ELAP resources Long Beach Unified School District
Strategic Interventions for English Learners Develop a plan . . . What shall we do about it? Lack of intervention curricula • Analyze achievement gaps / data trends using multiple indicators • Task-analyze specific skills contained in state standards • Identify target populations / student profiles using data Long Beach Unified School District
Strategic Interventions for English Learners Develop a plan . . . What shall we do about it? Lack of intervention curricula • Create curricula for extended-day program that facilitate language / literacy development at varying proficiency levels (academic vocabulary and structures) • Frontload / reinforce content area concepts and language • Design placement, formative, and summative assessment tools • Identify supplemental materials to support curricula Long Beach Unified School District
Strategic Interventions for English Learners Develop a plan . . . What shall we do about it? Year One Intervention Curricula: all courses include Step Up to Writing strategies • Language Development through Science • Language Development through U.S. History English language development with a focus on the academic vocabulary and grammatical structures needed to access the regular-day core course Student Profile: CELDT = INT – ADV CST/ELA = BB (high) – B Grade 8 Long Beach Unified School District
Strategic Interventions for English Learners Develop a plan . . . What shall we do about it? Year One Intervention Curricula: all courses include Step Up to Writing strategies • Language Development through Math I English language development with a focus on the academic vocabulary and prerequisite math skills needed to access Algebra core course Student Profile: CELDT = EADV – ADV CST/ELA = B – ADV P CST/Math = FBB - B Grades 6 - 8 Long Beach Unified School District
Strategic Interventions for English Learners Develop a plan . . . What shall we do about it? Year One Intervention Curricula: all courses include Step Up to Writing strategies • Language Development / Foundations I English language development for students who have not yet developed oral proficiency and need intensive instruction in word study and phonics, reading comprehension and fluency Student Profile: ≤ 3 years in U.S. school Low oral, low literacy skills CELDT = BEG - INT CST/ELA = FBB - B Grades 6 - 8 Long Beach Unified School District
Strategic Interventions for English Learners Develop a plan . . . What shall we do about it? Year One Intervention Curricula: all courses include Step Up to Writing strategies • Language Development / Foundations II English language development for students who have oral proficiency and need extensive instruction in reading comprehension strategies and writing skills Student Profile: > 3 years in U.S. school High oral, low l literacy skills CELDT = BEG - INT CST/ELA = FBB - B Grades 6 - 8 Long Beach Unified School District
Strategic Interventions for English Learners Develop a plan . . . What shall we do about it? Year One Intervention Curricula: • Language Development / Foundations III English language development which integrates the teaching of grammar and vocabulary with lessons on literature, reading, and writing Student Profile: Close to reclassifying CELDT = INT - ADV CST/ELA = B Grades 6 - 8 Long Beach Unified School District
Strategic Interventions for English Learners Develop a plan . . . What shall we do about it? Develop cadre of intervention teachers, district-wide • Recruit via Superintendent’s Bulletin, former supplemental program participants, coaches, trainers • Create training modules for each intervention course, Step Up to Writing strategies • Match teachers’ credentials, preferences to available assignments • Maintain substitute list Long Beach Unified School District
Strategic Interventions for English Learners Develop a plan . . . What shall we do about it? Meet with individual site administrative / support staff: • Review site-level student achievement data • Match treatment to identified need • Identify funding resources • Select from menu of treatment protocols Long Beach Unified School District
Strategic Interventions for English Learners Develop a plan . . . What shall we do about it? Saturday School Implementation – Year One (Spring 2007) • Nine schools “signed on”; approximately 700 student participants • Facilitation by central office: • Student placement • Teacher placement • Course outlines & pacing charts • Professional development • Supplemental materials procurement • Parent/guardian contact Long Beach Unified School District
Strategic Interventions for English Learners Evaluate . . . Did our plan work? Summer 2007 Based on administrative, teacher and student participants’ feedback: • Summative assessments re-written to more closely reflect standards and instruction • Additional course outlines created: • Language Development through Science 6 & 7 • Language Development through Math II • Language Development through Ancient World History Long Beach Unified School District
Strategic Interventions for English Learners Evaluate . . . Did our plan work? Fall 2007 Based on administrative, teacher and student participants’ feedback: • Aspiring Administrators selected, trained, and assigned to each site • Additional training for returning teachers • Extended training for new teachers • Intervention Specialist to provide counseling as needed at sites • Reminder postcards sent at vacation intervals Long Beach Unified School District
Strategic Interventions for English Learners Contact Information Chris Dominguez, Deputy Superintendent cdominguez@lbschools.net (562) 997-8025 Pamela Seki, Director, PALMS pseki@lbschools.net (562) 997-8031 Long Beach Unified School District