English Language Learners





About this page...

This page includes specific guidelines and samples for scheduling exceptional students. Exceptional students include: English Language Learners, Gifted and Talented and Students with Disabilities.

English Language Learners (ELL/ESL)

  • For questions and suggestions on how to support and schedule ELL, please contact Michael Sain.

  • All schools are expected to plan and schedule exceptional students with special needs first.  Students with special needs include students with disabilities, English Language Learners, and gifted and talented students.  For specifics scheduling guidelines for these groups please see the related tabs of the notebook.

  • ELL students are to be scheduled in the least restrictive environment possible.




Explanation English Proficiency Levels and Abilities

  • ELL students are to be scheduled according to their individual abilities as demonstrated by in school performance, OELPA scores and OAA, OGT and PARRC scores.  The OELPA classify learners as:  pre-functional, beginner, high beginner and trial mainstream and is to be used as a guide to the amount of direct ELL support a student may need. A detailed explanation of levels and characteristics are found below.

Scheduling Information

  • ELL courses are taught by ELL teachers.    

  • ELL course numbers end in L.  These courses are for ELL students only, taught by ELL teachers.

  • ELL students are to be scheduled into the least restrictive environment possible.

  • Always look at the state test Reading scores (OAA/OGT/PARCC) in conjunction with the OELPA scores when determining if a student should be in native-English speaking classes or scheduled with the ESL teacher.  If a student has scored Proficient in Reading on the state Reading test, they should initially be scheduled into native-English speaking classes.

  • The recommended student/teacher ratio is 20:1 for ELL classes.

  • ELL teachers may teach in place of a duty and can be scheduled to teach all but two periods (lunch and planning).  If TBT meetings are scheduled during personal planning time, attendance would be optional.

  • Schools may have varying ELL programs.  

  • ELL programs include:  Sheltered Site...

  • The scheduling direction provided is for Sheltered Sites and...

  • Bilingual assistants are provided to support ELL programs and have specific duties and interventions they are to provide.  Please see the Bilingual Assistants Scheduling Guide for more information.


High School ELL Scheduling 

For specific information about OELPA levels and scheduling ELL students at the high school level, click on this High School ELL Scheduling Guide hyperlink, or click on the image below.



Middle School ELL Scheduling

For specific information about OELPA levels and scheduling ELL students at the middle school level, click on this Middle School ELL Scheduling Guide hyperlink, or click on the image below.



Bilingual Assistants

ELL programs will have the support of Bilingual Assistants.  To understand the roles and responsibilities of Bilingual Assistants and how they should be scheduled, click on this Bilingual Assistants Scheduling Guide hyperlink, or click on the image below.

 

Sheltered Site Scheduling Pathways and Ideas

The following resources provide sample pathways and master schedules for ELL Sheltered Site programs.

Sheltered Sites Course Paths              Sample Schedule for Sheltered Site Teachers