Alternative Language Services (ALS)

1. Alternative Language Services (ALS) November 10, 2008

2. Purpose of Title III “To help ensure that children who are limited English proficient, including immigrant children and youth, attain English proficiency, develop high levels of academic attainment in English, and meet the same challenging State academic content and student academic achievement standards as all children are expected to meet.”

3. Purpose of Title III “To develop high-quality language instruction educational programs designed to assist State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and schools in teaching limited English proficient children and serving immigrant children and youth .”

4. Requirements of Title III • Demonstrate annual increases in the number or percentage of children making progress in learning English • Demonstrate annual increases in the number or percentage of children attaining English proficiency • Achieve AYP for the limited English proficient children (ELL subgroup)

5. Funding for ALS • Primarily from the state block grant for Student Interventions • Less than $3,000 from federal funding

6. Regardless of the fact that Alternative Language Services are under funded on the federal level, and state funding is also limited, we are required by law to provide services to assist English Language Learners (ELL) to acquire academic English at a proficient level which will allow them to achieve the same levels as their peers on academic assessments.

7. When New Student Arrives - Secretary • Have student complete Home Language Survey

9. Home Language Survey Questions • What is the student’s first/primary language? • Are any languages other than English used as a major form of communication in the home? ___ Yes ___ No

10. Home Language Survey Questions • If yes, list language other than English spoken in the home by each person:- student- father- mother- other adult • School year student first enrolled in school within the USA.

11. Home Language Survey Questions • Language needed for written notices sent home by the school • Language needed for oral communication with the home

12. Home Language Survey • “Do parents complete a new HLS every year?”No, the HLS is only filled out the first time the student enrolls in the district • Original is to be kept in student cumulative file • Copy should be place in ALS handbook along with the student’s testing profile

13. Student Enrolls From Schools Within Utah • Check file from previous school for- Home Language Survey- IPT or UALPA test scores • If no test scores available, send email to Ruth Ann requesting she check the state UALPA test score data base

14. Secretary • Notify ALS team leader that a new PHLOTE (Primary Home Language Other Than English) student has enrolled • Notify ALS team leader of any available language test scores from previous schools

15. Secretary – Enter SIS Information • Student first/primary language (SIS Field: “LEP Student Language”) • Language for communication home (SIS Field: “Home Language”) • School year student first enrolled in a US school (SIS Field: “First Enrolled in US School”) Do not enter this field’s data if student was born in the US

16. When New Student Arrives – ALS Team • IF primary language of the student which is listed on the HLS is NOT English the ALS team should check to see whether the student has taken the Utah Alternative Language Proficiency Assessment (UALPA)

17. When New Student Arrives – ALS Team • IF student has no UALPA score or other documentation from other schools to indicate level of English proficiency, administer the IPT test within two weeks • IPT is Uintah School District’s placement test but is used ONLY if no other information exists which indicates student’s proficiency

18. Placement Test Purpose • Help identify student and an ELL and help determine what level of service is needed – this score is for in-district purposes only

19. When New Student Arrives – ALS Team • IF student tests as LEP (Limited English Proficient) the school ALS team meets to decide how to serve student (assist in acquiring proficiency in English) • Best Effort based on student’s need

20. If Student Is Identified As LEP • Notify parents in writing that student will begin ALS service and describe how student will be taught English (school team decision) • Parents may opt out if they wish • Begin language service as soon as possible after student arrives and is properly identified.

21. Rule of Thumb • Students with IPT score of “A” or low “B” OR UALPA score of “P” or “E” should receive 35 to 45 minutes of language instruction 3 times per week as a minimum • Students with higher proficiency levels may need less intense intervention • Service is individual needs based

22. Alternative Language Services • Is not just a “Testing” Program to identify ELL or LEP students • Is a service to assist students to acquire proficiency in the English language • Is a team effort • Is required under federal law

23. UALPA Testing • Test window January 15 – April 9 • All ELLs must be tested with the UALPA during this window • Exception: students who tested “A” AND were proficient on last year’s Language Arts CRT (F or fluent students being monitored for 2 years)

24. Proficiency Descriptors • Pre-emergent (UALPA level “P” or IPT level “A”) • Limited or no understanding of English Participate primarily by listening and responding non-verbally

25. Proficiency Descriptors • Emergent (UALPA level “E” or IPT level “B”) • Begin to associate oral and written language, tend to respond with short phrases or simple sentences

26. Proficiency Descriptors • Intermediate (UALPA level “I” or IPT level “C”) • Able to use more abstract, academic and formal language and literacy skills but often one or two years below grade level (language not cognitive ability)

27. Proficiency Descriptors • Advanced (UALPA level “A” or IPT level “D”) • Able to participate fully in all content areas at grade level or above

28. Proficiency Descriptors • Fluent (UALPA level “F”) • Advanced students who also scored proficient on the Language Arts CRT and who have been judged “fluent” by the school ALS team

29. Questions • What happens if a student tests as “fluent” the first time the IPT is given? • The student is NOT identified as ELL, does not qualify for service and is not tested with the UALPA.

30. Questions • What about the student whose HLS lists English as his/her primary language (parent may list another language) but the student seems to have difficulty with English? • Teachers may suggest to ALS team they consider consulting with the parent and then possibly evaluating the student with the IPT.

31. Questions • Can a student’s ethnicity or country of origin be used as a basis for administering the IPT? • No. Testing is determined based on the HLS.

32. Questions • What about the student whose HLS lists English as the primary language for both the student and all family members but the student’s ethnicity may seem to indicate the student’s home language is not English? • The student may NOT be tested and is NOT ELL.

33. All 3 of the following are required to exit ALS • Must score “A” on UALPA • Must score 3 or 4 on the Spring Language Arts CRT for the same year the “A” on UALPA was earned • School ALS team recommendation

34. Parent Notification • Parents must be notified in writing when a student is exited from ALS service

35. “Fluent” Students • Monitor for two years from “exit” date • May be reclassified as ALS during the monitoring period if language proficiency regresses – this is a school ALS team decision

36. IPT Testing Training Site http://www.ballard-tighe.com/IPTOnlineInserviceTraining/default.htm

38. U-PASS Test Participation If U-PASS tests are optional for an ELL student, the school ALS team decides which assessments the student take based on his/her ability and level of performance.

39. U-PASS Test Participation • ELL students new to the US enrolled before April 15 of the current school year must take: • UALPA • Math CRT • Science CRT • UBSCT if in high school

40. U-PASS Test Participation ELL students new to the US enrolled on of after April 15 of the current school year are exempt from all state tests.

41. U-PASS Test Participation • ELL students who enrolled before April 15 of the previous school year must take: • UALPA • Language Arts • Math CRT • Science CRT • Direct Writing Assessment • UBSCT if in high school

42. U-PASS Test Participation • ELL students who enrolled on or after April 15 of the previous school year must take: • UALPA • Math CRT • Science CRT • UBSCT if in high school

43. U-PASS Test Participation • ELL students who have been enrolled three or more years must take: • UALPA • Language Arts CRT • Math CRT • Science CRT • Direct Writing Assessment • UBSCT if in high school

44. Thanks for attending! For Questions Call: Leonard Sullivan – Extension 1030 Ruth Ann Nelson – Extension 1032 To exit the WIMBA classroom, click on “Exit” in the lower right had corner of your screen.