We are all EL Teachers at APS

ACCESS tests are required annually for all students receiving EL services. The ACCESS test has four domains: listening, reading, speaking, and writing. The ACCESS test determines whether the student has made adequate progress in language acquisition, with the goal of exiting programming. The greatest gains are typically seen in the early school years, but all EL identified students have the opportunity to exit annually. In order for our staff to administer the assessments, they must take and be certified by WIDA each year. Typically, students take one domain a day, so students will be testing for four days. The tests are required to be given in the following order: listening, reading, speaking and writing. All identified students must take the assessment, unless their parents request for them to opt out of testing. Students who have declined EL services, are still required to take the ACCESS test.

As in every aspect of education, we do love our acronyms. This is especially true for English Language programs! In our work this year to revise our LIEP (Language Instruction Educational Program) plan we have worked to be sure that we are using the correct terminology in our district. Here are some helpful definitions:

1. EL (also known as ESL, LEP)—English Language—-term used to describe the services and programming offered to students learning English.

1. For example: Mr. Hines teaches EL. Meaning he teaches the English Language to students who are acquiring the English Language.

   
   

2. ML—Multilingual--term used to describe students who are proficient or working towards proficiency in more than one language. Not all ML students receive EL services.

1. For example: Kristi Beckman is multilingual, meaning she is proficient or working towards proficiency in English, Spanish, and French.

When you are speaking about a student, use the term ML.

When you are speaking about the program, the teacher, the services, use EL.

New to Early Childhood this year, for any students who speak a language other than English, is the PreLAS. The PreLAS is a language proficiency assessment for young students. Any student labeled as EL in Early Childhood will be screened again when they enter Kindergarten.

When early childhood students are identified as ML students, their services will be provided in the classroom with same aged peer models. At this stage of development, students need time to practice their basic interpersonal communication skills and learn around authentic play.