Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m an ESOL teacher in DCPS. If you put that you speak another language at home on your home language survey, it’s federal law that your child must be tested for ESOL services. If they don’t qualify for them through the test, then they won’t get them. If they need extra help, then they will get that. It’s sad that there is such a stigma around ESOL on this board.
Generally, all testing for ESL is done by the Language Acquisition Division of DCPS and not at the school. Therefore, the principal cannot rush testing, as one PP suggested. At some schools, PK3, PK4, and Kindergarten are tested in school during the month of September, but that is the only time in school testing will occur. The test used for early childhood is oral language only and is very basic. I have tested many children who don’t qualify for ESL services. Once a child qualifies for ESL services, they will take tha ACCESS test every year until they exit ESL. In DC, they must score a 5 to exit. Parents have the right to refuse ESL services for their children, however, the law requires that they still take the ACCESS test every year.
Finally, most schools are moving towards a push in model of instruction as opposed to pull out, so the students usually don’t miss out on instruction or any fun activities. They just get some extra help with language if they need it. I’m not sure where that idea came from. If that happens to your child, you should talk to their teachers about it.

Thank you so much for this. I don’t think people above realized how hurtful and racist their comments sounded to me, a Central American speaker of Spanish.

Thank you.

Forgot to mention that my husband got esol services when he emigrated from Europe. I also did for a short period. So there is no such thing as “those classes are not for your child”. That’s straight up racism. My kids are tested every year and they don’t miss out on anything. I really think the op, her husband, and almost all the posters should take a hard look at themselves.

First - What specific comments were racist and hurtful? I have heard my fair share of ignorance, but I didn't feel that in previous posts (unless they were deleted).

Secondly - DC Public Schools have a much better staffing ratio for ELLs. It's 21 students per ELL teacher. Many charter schools don't even come close to that ratio, so ELL services might be extremely limited if anything.

Third - The Wida Access test is much too rigorous and to test as proficient (5 or above) requires too much advanced langauge from students. Any student that passes the Access (4-5% of ELLs) is usually the "high flyer" of the class.

OP here, the only comments that were deleted where from the PP (23:47) calling other posters racist, I still don't understand why. I don't see anything wrong with no wanting to my child to take any class he doesn't need. And again my child is black and will be going to school that is 90% minority. So maybe the PP should just accept that people have different opinion on that matter and no be so quick to judge and call people names

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m an ESOL teacher in DCPS. If you put that you speak another language at home on your home language survey, it’s federal law that your child must be tested for ESOL services. If they don’t qualify for them through the test, then they won’t get them. If they need extra help, then they will get that. It’s sad that there is such a stigma around ESOL on this board.
Generally, all testing for ESL is done by the Language Acquisition Division of DCPS and not at the school. Therefore, the principal cannot rush testing, as one PP suggested. At some schools, PK3, PK4, and Kindergarten are tested in school during the month of September, but that is the only time in school testing will occur. The test used for early childhood is oral language only and is very basic. I have tested many children who don’t qualify for ESL services. Once a child qualifies for ESL services, they will take tha ACCESS test every year until they exit ESL. In DC, they must score a 5 to exit. Parents have the right to refuse ESL services for their children, however, the law requires that they still take the ACCESS test every year.
Finally, most schools are moving towards a push in model of instruction as opposed to pull out, so the students usually don’t miss out on instruction or any fun activities. They just get some extra help with language if they need it. I’m not sure where that idea came from. If that happens to your child, you should talk to their teachers about it.

Thank you so much for this. I don’t think people above realized how hurtful and racist their comments sounded to me, a Central American speaker of Spanish.

Thank you.

I am from Honduras. I posted about our family's experience as well as that of a family we're close to from Uruguay. You REPEATEDLY accused me of being racist against non-native English speakers, even after I explained where I'm from.

I think you're just a troll.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m an ESOL teacher in DCPS. If you put that you speak another language at home on your home language survey, it’s federal law that your child must be tested for ESOL services. If they don’t qualify for them through the test, then they won’t get them. If they need extra help, then they will get that. It’s sad that there is such a stigma around ESOL on this board.
Generally, all testing for ESL is done by the Language Acquisition Division of DCPS and not at the school. Therefore, the principal cannot rush testing, as one PP suggested. At some schools, PK3, PK4, and Kindergarten are tested in school during the month of September, but that is the only time in school testing will occur. The test used for early childhood is oral language only and is very basic. I have tested many children who don’t qualify for ESL services. Once a child qualifies for ESL services, they will take tha ACCESS test every year until they exit ESL. In DC, they must score a 5 to exit. Parents have the right to refuse ESL services for their children, however, the law requires that they still take the ACCESS test every year.
Finally, most schools are moving towards a push in model of instruction as opposed to pull out, so the students usually don’t miss out on instruction or any fun activities. They just get some extra help with language if they need it. I’m not sure where that idea came from. If that happens to your child, you should talk to their teachers about it.

Thank you so much for this. I don’t think people above realized how hurtful and racist their comments sounded to me, a Central American speaker of Spanish.

Thank you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m an ESOL teacher in DCPS. If you put that you speak another language at home on your home language survey, it’s federal law that your child must be tested for ESOL services. If they don’t qualify for them through the test, then they won’t get them. If they need extra help, then they will get that. It’s sad that there is such a stigma around ESOL on this board.
Generally, all testing for ESL is done by the Language Acquisition Division of DCPS and not at the school. Therefore, the principal cannot rush testing, as one PP suggested. At some schools, PK3, PK4, and Kindergarten are tested in school during the month of September, but that is the only time in school testing will occur. The test used for early childhood is oral language only and is very basic. I have tested many children who don’t qualify for ESL services. Once a child qualifies for ESL services, they will take tha ACCESS test every year until they exit ESL. In DC, they must score a 5 to exit. Parents have the right to refuse ESL services for their children, however, the law requires that they still take the ACCESS test every year.
Finally, most schools are moving towards a push in model of instruction as opposed to pull out, so the students usually don’t miss out on instruction or any fun activities. They just get some extra help with language if they need it. I’m not sure where that idea came from. If that happens to your child, you should talk to their teachers about it.

Thank you so much for this. I don’t think people above realized how hurtful and racist their comments sounded to me, a Central American speaker of Spanish.

Thank you.

Forgot to mention that my husband got esol services when he emigrated from Europe. I also did for a short period. So there is no such thing as “those classes are not for your child”. That’s straight up racism. My kids are tested every year and they don’t miss out on anything. I really think the op, her husband, and almost all the posters should take a hard look at themselves.

First - What specific comments were racist and hurtful? I have heard my fair share of ignorance, but I didn't feel that in previous posts (unless they were deleted).

Secondly - DC Public Schools have a much better staffing ratio for ELLs. It's 21 students per ELL teacher. Many charter schools don't even come close to that ratio, so ELL services might be extremely limited if anything.

Third - The Wida Access test is much too rigorous and to test as proficient (5 or above) requires too much advanced langauge from students. Any student that passes the Access (4-5% of ELLs) is usually the "high flyer" of the class.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m an ESOL teacher in DCPS. If you put that you speak another language at home on your home language survey, it’s federal law that your child must be tested for ESOL services. If they don’t qualify for them through the test, then they won’t get them. If they need extra help, then they will get that. It’s sad that there is such a stigma around ESOL on this board.
Generally, all testing for ESL is done by the Language Acquisition Division of DCPS and not at the school. Therefore, the principal cannot rush testing, as one PP suggested. At some schools, PK3, PK4, and Kindergarten are tested in school during the month of September, but that is the only time in school testing will occur. The test used for early childhood is oral language only and is very basic. I have tested many children who don’t qualify for ESL services. Once a child qualifies for ESL services, they will take tha ACCESS test every year until they exit ESL. In DC, they must score a 5 to exit. Parents have the right to refuse ESL services for their children, however, the law requires that they still take the ACCESS test every year.
Finally, most schools are moving towards a push in model of instruction as opposed to pull out, so the students usually don’t miss out on instruction or any fun activities. They just get some extra help with language if they need it. I’m not sure where that idea came from. If that happens to your child, you should talk to their teachers about it.

Thank you so much for this. I don’t think people above realized how hurtful and racist their comments sounded to me, a Central American speaker of Spanish.

Thank you.

Forgot to mention that my husband got esol services when he emigrated from Europe. I also did for a short period. So there is no such thing as “those classes are not for your child”. That’s straight up racism. My kids are tested every year and they don’t miss out on anything. I really think the op, her husband, and almost all the posters should take a hard look at themselves.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m an ESOL teacher in DCPS. If you put that you speak another language at home on your home language survey, it’s federal law that your child must be tested for ESOL services. If they don’t qualify for them through the test, then they won’t get them. If they need extra help, then they will get that. It’s sad that there is such a stigma around ESOL on this board.
Generally, all testing for ESL is done by the Language Acquisition Division of DCPS and not at the school. Therefore, the principal cannot rush testing, as one PP suggested. At some schools, PK3, PK4, and Kindergarten are tested in school during the month of September, but that is the only time in school testing will occur. The test used for early childhood is oral language only and is very basic. I have tested many children who don’t qualify for ESL services. Once a child qualifies for ESL services, they will take tha ACCESS test every year until they exit ESL. In DC, they must score a 5 to exit. Parents have the right to refuse ESL services for their children, however, the law requires that they still take the ACCESS test every year.
Finally, most schools are moving towards a push in model of instruction as opposed to pull out, so the students usually don’t miss out on instruction or any fun activities. They just get some extra help with language if they need it. I’m not sure where that idea came from. If that happens to your child, you should talk to their teachers about it.

Thank you so much for this. I don’t think people above realized how hurtful and racist their comments sounded to me, a Central American speaker of Spanish.

Thank you.

Anonymous wrote:I’m an ESOL teacher in DCPS. If you put that you speak another language at home on your home language survey, it’s federal law that your child must be tested for ESOL services. If they don’t qualify for them through the test, then they won’t get them. If they need extra help, then they will get that. It’s sad that there is such a stigma around ESOL on this board.
Generally, all testing for ESL is done by the Language Acquisition Division of DCPS and not at the school. Therefore, the principal cannot rush testing, as one PP suggested. At some schools, PK3, PK4, and Kindergarten are tested in school during the month of September, but that is the only time in school testing will occur. The test used for early childhood is oral language only and is very basic. I have tested many children who don’t qualify for ESL services. Once a child qualifies for ESL services, they will take tha ACCESS test every year until they exit ESL. In DC, they must score a 5 to exit. Parents have the right to refuse ESL services for their children, however, the law requires that they still take the ACCESS test every year.
Finally, most schools are moving towards a push in model of instruction as opposed to pull out, so the students usually don’t miss out on instruction or any fun activities. They just get some extra help with language if they need it. I’m not sure where that idea came from. If that happens to your child, you should talk to their teachers about it.

Anonymous wrote:Some light, rather than heat ...

US federal law requires that children who require additional English language instruction in order to meet academic content standards receive those services. It is the responsibility of school districts to ensure that they identify those children and provide services.

DC (and most school districts nationwide) begin this process by screening kids via a Home Language Survey -- this is the form on which you indicate if you speak languages other than English at home. From the DCPS website:

"If the OSSE Home Language Survey indicates that a language other than English is spoken in the home to or by the student, the student must be screened for possible identification as an EL using the appropriate screener within 30 school days of the student’s first official school day"
https://osse.dc.gov/page/english-learners-els

Also worth knowing is that parents have the right to decline these services for their children.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some light, rather than heat ...

US federal law requires that children who require additional English language instruction in order to meet academic content standards receive those services. It is the responsibility of school districts to ensure that they identify those children and provide services.

DC (and most school districts nationwide) begin this process by screening kids via a Home Language Survey -- this is the form on which you indicate if you speak languages other than English at home. From the DCPS website:

"If the OSSE Home Language Survey indicates that a language other than English is spoken in the home to or by the student, the student must be screened for possible identification as an EL using the appropriate screener within 30 school days of the student’s first official school day"
https://osse.dc.gov/page/english-learners-els

Also worth knowing is that parents have the right to decline these services for their children.

The test is called ACCESS and has four parts--reading, writing, speaking, and listening. If you pass the test first time you are labeled "not an ELL". Scores are 1-6 and 6 is considered tested out. Say you first test and get a 3, then the next year test out, you have two years of "monitoring" to make sure you make progress. You can also get testing accommodations for this time. Eventually you "exit" monitoring and are done. In DCPS there is no curriculum or set model. I was an ELL teacher and it was basically "here's what they need to know, do something." In the suburbs of MD there was actually a curriculum and solid pull out services.

Anonymous wrote:Hmmmm good job deleting all the comments where people showed proper indignation, but leaving misinformation.

Fwiw By spreading misinformation and lies (see nearly all posts above) you’re contributing to the stigmatization of those who grow up needing ESOL or help with English.

Good job Jeff.