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Language Support

Ahliah School Policy for Limited English Proficient Students (LEP)

Ahliah School is committed to the provision of educational programs and services to provide an appropriate planned instruction program for identified students whose first language is not English and are identified to be Limited English Proficient. The purpose of the program is to increase the English language proficiency of those students so that they can attain the academic standards adopted by the school achieve academic success.

Definition of LEP: Students identified as LEP means that they have sufficient difficulty speaking, reading, writing or understanding the English language used for instruction in the relevant grade level, and whose difficulties may deny such individuals the opportunity to learn successfully in classrooms where the language of instruction is English or to participate fully in school programs and activities.

Procedures

Identifying Limited English Proficient (LEP) student

Steps to LEP Identification:

  • Step 1: The first step of the identification process is the Parent Language Questionnaire. The questionnaire helps identify the main languages spoken at home. In addition to identifying if there is a family member who can assist the student in learning English.
  • Step 2: The second step of the identification process is that a Language Observation Checklist be filled out by the personnel conducting the placement test (homeroom, Language Arts teacher, or HoD). If the Observation proves that a student is not fluent then the student should be referred for a formal identification assessment.
  • Step 3: the formal identification assessment can be benchmarked against Ahliah’s standards for language arts for each grade level and the WIDA Performance Definitions for the Levels of English Language Proficiency in Grades K-12, and Can Do Charts.

Providing Language assistance and Language Development Programs

The formal identification assessment is used to decide which program to implement with each learner. The school will select program/s according to the student’s proficiency level.

The available programs are:

  1. Summer intensive program: If admitted early, the school could recommend that the student enroll in an intensive Summer Language program.
  2. Full or part time shadow teacher: Recommended mostly in cases where the student has very low proficiency according to his/her grade level and is enrolled in middle or upper classes. A shadow teacher is hired by the school to be supporting the student throughout the school day and in all main subjects. The shadow teachers will be simultaneously building the student’s language proficiency until he/she becomes proficient enough to work independently, and supporting the student in class to cope with the new language of instruction. It is preferable that the shadow teacher speaks the native language of the learner. The fees for the shadow teacher will be covered by the student’s parents.
  3. Parallel Language classes: Students are given parallel English classes tailored to their level during the English and French sessions.
  4. Pull out sessions: Students are pulled out from certain English classes to be given remediation and intensive lessons.
  5. Integration in the classroom: Students attend all classes with their peers and teacher use strategies (e.g. SIOP Modal Strategies) to help them cope with the language of instruction.

Monitoring Language Needs and Implementation

On an ongoing basis Ahliah school will assess progress in students’ Language proficiency and accessibility to other subject matters. Ahliah will also assess the types of services or other needs that may require reevaluation and the efficacy of the programs offered.

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