What exactly is included in the ESOL%?
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Anonymous
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I have been hearing conflicting information on the school ESOL%. Is an ESOL student a student who is not English proficient or simply a student who speaks English as a second language?
My parents were immigrants, we spoke another language at home but I was never in ESL classes at school. Would I have been considered ESOL in Fairfax County? Our zoned elementary school shows 30% ESOL. Trying to understand what this means. |
Anonymous
| It's the former. Most places now call them English Language Learner, partly for the reason you describe. Those students are receiving English services of some sort. |
Anonymous
| I'm not sure that FCPS is not classifying some first generation kids who speak English well as ESOL. More money.L. |
Anonymous
| The illegals and farms , look at how the esol, farms and Hispanics are lock in step |
Anonymous
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ESOL has nothing to do with the kids ability to speak English or even their speaking other languages. At registration you fill out Form SS/SE82 and even if the kid speaks no language other than English you are classified as ESOL.
If there is any language other than English spoken in the household (The exact question "Is there a language other than English spoken in the home?") you are classified ESOL. The form is at: www.fcps.edu/it/forms/se82.pdf? Its a racket to get federal tax dollars and is way overstated. My father lives with us and he speaks Gaelic to the kids so we're ESOL. |
Anonymous
I don't know how it works in VA, but in DC and MD kids who are "flagged" on the questionnaire take a test on their speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. If those skills, in English, are weak, they qualify as ELL/ESL/ESOL. Sometimes kids who are definitely English dominant, but have language issues (e.g. a language delay, or dyslexia) or have low skills for other reasons, will qualify for ELL, but if your child's skills are strong they won't. |
Anonymous
Yes, but your child is not receiving ESOL services so there is no funding for him/her. In fcps students also now take a test called the Wida which is used to determine a student's level in ESOL or if they qualify for services. |
Anonymous
| How long do students typically receive ESOL services? |
Anonymous
It depends on the age and the education level when they arrive. Kids who start school as ESOL students generally will move quickly through the program. Kids who come in high school can move through in a year, 2 years, or 5-6 years. That's why they can stay until 22. |
Anonymous
| ...and at our school the base language are not simply "Hispanic"... It is Spanish, Korea, Farsi, Hindi, Turkish, Italian, Finish, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Tagalog(sp?), Amharic and Arabic. |
Anonymous
I think this is why you see ESOL at TJ but no services needed.... |
Anonymous
Our English only ESOL kid took the Wida and was listed as No services required "Wida level 6?". Still considered ESOL though, and the principal said they do get some (but less) funds. |
Anonymous
| My question is whether these types of kids who already speak english really need a needs based staffing ratio geared towards them. Maybe they need some extra services, but class size doesn't really seem to be one of them. |
Anonymous
Yes, if your child was a level 6, he/she is considered FEP or Fully English Proficient. He/she would not qualify for ESOL services. Not sure why he/she is still considered ESOL. In my district, your child would not be considered ESOL. Now, if your child was in ESOL and then tested out of it, he/she would receive testing and classroom accommodations for the next 2 years. Many kids speak English and you might not even know they are ESOL. They have what is considered BICS (Basic Interpersonal Communicative Skills). They "sound" like or almost like a native speaker. But what is needed to succeed in schools is CALP (Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency) and this is often what ESOL students lack. Parents are given the option of waiving ESOL services too. |
Anonymous
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In FCPS, a parent fills out a Home Language Survey upon enrolling the child in school. Based on the identification of a language other than English being spoken in the home, the child will be flagged for ESOL and will take the WIDA test. Levels 1- 4 actively receive services. Levels 5 & 6 do not, but they are still on the ESOL roster/case load and are monitored by ESOL teachers. A student receiving a Level 6 placement (the highest) will be monitored for 2 years, before finally being exited. The 5s and 6s still take the WIDA every year. This is a state-directed mandate, not county.
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