English Language Learner (ELL) Department
Frequently Asked Questions
05.22.13
Below are some frequently asked questions. The questions will be updated from time to time as needed to respond to your concerns.

Questions
1)  Who are the students that could qualify as English Language Learners (ELLs) and need to be referred for evaluation to your ELL teacher?
2)  Can a student qualify under more than one category?
3)  Can an Immigrant, Refugee, or ELL also be homeless?
4)  How do I know the ELL level of these students?
5)  How is the level determined?
6)  What are the necessary papers that an ELL, Immigrant, Refugee, or Migrant must present?
7)  What information can be requested from the parents or student?
8)  What about a Social Security Number?
9)  What should I do with ELL information, forms, test results, and notices?
10)  What about medical information?
11)  I have a non-English speaking student in my room. How can I best help them?
12)  Who are the ELL teachers and how can I reach them ?
13)  Are there educational resources for parents to support their children's learning?
14)  What legal obligations do schools have for educating ELLs?
15)  What is the difference between the different acronyms?
16)  How can I support the development of language and literacy in ELLs ?
17)  Where can I find information to support ELLs in the classroom ?
18)  What is required by the state to be certified to teach ELLs?
19)  What are some myths about ELLs?
 
Answers
1)  Q Who are the students that could qualify as English Language Learners (ELLs) and need to be referred for evaluation to your ELL teacher?
A

Definition of Limited English Proficient (LEP)

Students An LEP student in the Commonwealth of Virginia is classified according to the federal government definition as described in Public Law 107-110, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

An LEP student is classified as one:

(A.) who is aged 3 through 21;

(B.) who is enrolled or preparing to enroll in an elementary school or secondary school;

(C.) (i.) who was not born in the United States or whose native language is a language other than English; and who comes from an environment where a language other than English is dominant OR

(ii.) (I.) who is a Native American or Alaska Native, or a native resident of outlying areas; and (II.) who comes from an environment where a language other than English has had a significant impact on the individual's level of English language proficiency; OR

(iii.) who is migratory, whose native language is a language other than English, and who comes from an environment where a language other than English is dominant; AND

(D.) whose difficulties speaking, reading, writing, or understanding the English language may be sufficient to deny the individual -

(i.) the ability to meet the State's proficient level of achievement on State assessments described in section 1111(b)(3);

 (ii.) the ability to achieve successfully in classrooms where the language of instruction is English; or

(iii.) the opportunity to participate fully in society. [P.L. 107-110, Title IX, Part A, Sec. 9101, (25)]

Definition of Refugee Students

The refugee student is an individual who is outside his/her country and is unable or unwilling to return to that country because of a well-founded fear that she/he will be persecuted because of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.

This does not include persons displaced by natural disasters or persons who although displaced have not crossed an international border or persons commonly known as "economic migrants", whose primarily reason for flight has been a desire for personal betterment rather than persecution

Definition of Immigrant Student Eligible

"Immigrant children and youth" include those individuals who are aged 3 through 21, who were not born in the United States and who have not been attending one or more schools in any one or more states for more than three full academic years. Report the total of immigrant students in the division.

Definition of Migrant Student

A "migrant student" is defined as a student who is, or whose parent/guardian is, a migratory fisher, dairy worker, or agricultural worker, AND who in the preceding 36 months has moved from one school district to another in order for the worker to obtain temporary or seasonal employment in agricultural or fishing work. (See the federal definition of "migratory child" as contained in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 Title I sec.1309 (2) for a more complete version of this definition.)"

2)  Q Can a student qualify under more than one category?
A
Yes, and they should be entered into Power School under all categories to which they qualify.
3)  Q Can an Immigrant, Refugee, or ELL also be homeless?
A

Yes.

In the past there has been some confusion about the definition and determination of homeless for out ELLs. If you have questions, Sharon Belt (X350) is the division liaison.

Homeless Students

School divisions must enroll homeless students. School divisions must coordinate the provision of services to homeless students with relevant local social services agencies and other agencies and programs providing services to such students, and with other school divisions. Superintendents cannot exclude from school attendance those homeless children who do not provide the requisite health or immunization information required of other students. School divisions must immediately refer the student to the local school division liaison required to assist the student in obtaining necessary physical examinations or proof or completion of immunizations.

4)  Q How do I know the ELL level of these students?
A
The ELL teacher will provide the level for you.
5)  Q How is the level determined?
A

School systems are legally obligated to identify all ELLs. We have a two-phase process for identification. • First, parents complete the Student Information and/or Home Language Form at the time of registration.

• If it is determined that English is not the dominant language, the next phase--the oral language proficiency test and reading and writing skills assessment must be completed by an ELL teacher. Please use the referral form guidanceinformlevel.doc to make a referral to the ELL teacher in your building.

• Levels cannot be determined though observation or conversation with the student. Testing is used to establish Academic English skill.

• The ELL teacher should be notified as soon as possible so testing can begin.

• We must complete our testing and notification within 30 days of their enrollment.

• The only exception would be a transfer student who produces up-to-date testing information regarding their English language skills. Please pass this information along to the ELL teacher in your building as well.

6)  Q What are the necessary papers that an ELL, Immigrant, Refugee, or Migrant must present?
A

Residency

Code of Virginia § 22.1-3 provides that the public schools in each school division shall be free to each person of school age who resides within the school division.

A student is deemed a resident of a school division and entitled to enroll in school if he or she is living with a natural parent.

A court order or proof of custody cannot be required of a natural parent for the enrollment of a student who is living with him.

Questions continue to arise regarding a local school board's authority to inquire into a perspective student's citizenship or visa status and to bar enrollment to those students who reside within the school division but do not hold a student visa. Pursuant to a decision by the United States Supreme Court, school divisions are not permitted to inquire into a prospective student's citizenship or visa status in order to enroll the student.

School divisions are required to accept students who meet residency requirements under § 22.1-3 of the Code and may not deny a free public education to undocumented school-age children who reside within their jurisdiction because they do not hold valid United States citizenship or a student visa.

7)  Q What information can be requested from the parents or student?
A

The following information may be requested from each ELL and should be used for enrollment purposes only:

l. Proof of residence: lease agreement, property title, rental receipt, driver's license, car registration, notarized statement from the family with whom the student is living;

2. Proof of birth date: passport, birth certificate, or Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) Form I-94 (for refugees);

3. Previous school records, if available; oral declaration for students without records;

4. Immunization records: yellow international health cards, or records from refugee camps, private doctors, or health services;

5. Guardianship or custody papers: The juvenile court will issue legal papers attesting to the fact that someone other than the child's parents is the legal guardian. A document notarized or legalized in the child's country of origin or in the United States, signed by the

8)  Q What about a Social Security Number?
A

Social Security Number Not Required

The Social Security Administration has ruled that school personnel require children enrolling in public school to have a social security number. However, SSA Publication No. 05-10096, March 1996, states that language minority children cannot be denied access to public education in Virginia if they do not have a social security number. The school can assign internal identification numbers to administer educational programs. In addition, students applying to take the SAT or GRE and other educational tests do not need a social security number to take the test.

9)  Q What should I do with ELL information, forms, test results, and notices?
A
Each student's file should have a Red folder in it which contains all the ELL information. This should hold all the information related to there enrollment, ELL status, and test data.
10)  Q What about medical information?
A

With the exception of the homeless caveat, the same procedures and expectations applied to all students for medical information should be followed; Information for parents regarding immunization

 • The student must document Immunization and T.B. testing or have an appointment to obtain it.

• Most health cottage forms have been translated into Spanish.

• If you have any other forms that need to be translated please send them to me, as an attachment and I will get them translated and back to you and post them here on the website.

11)  Q I have a non-English speaking student in my room. How can I best help them?
A
Here is a link to a tool kit put together by the Department of education called In the Classroom.
12)  Q Who are the ELL teachers and how can I reach them ?
A

Our ELL teachers work in multiple schools.  Their names and contact information are below. 

WMMS & WMHS: Kim Breining can be reached at 434-985-1311 and kbreining@greenecountyschools.com

RES, GCPS & NGES: Emily Elliott can be reached at 434-985-1356 and eelliott@greenecountyschools.com

13)  Q Are there educational resources for parents to support their children's learning?
A
There are many and some are translated into Spanish. Tools for Student Success is a good place to start.
14)  Q What legal obligations do schools have for educating ELLs?
A
A good resource for this answer can be found at the National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition and Language Instruction Educational Programs (NCELA) sight, under civil rights law.
15)  Q What is the difference between the different acronyms?
A
ELLs = English Language Learners
ESL = English as a Second Language
ESOL = English for Speakers of Other Languages
TESOL = Teachers of English for Speakers of Other Languages
ELP = English Language Proficiency
LEP = Limited English Proficiency
FLEP = Formerly Limited English Proficient
FEP = Fully English Proficient
16)  Q How can I support the development of language and literacy in ELLs ?
A
17)  Q Where can I find information to support ELLs in the classroom ?
A

The following are sites that present research to support English Langauge Learners in the classroom.

Language and Linquistics http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/linguistics/index.jsp

Helping English Language Learners in the English and Language Arts Classroom http://www.glencoe.com/sec/teachingtoday/subject/help_ELL_lit_la.phtml

Acquiring a Second Language  http://www.ncela.gwu.edu/pubs/directions/04.htm

Resources About Secondary English Language Learners

http://www.ncela.gwu.edu/resabout/ells/


Resources About Language and Culture http://www.ncela.gwu.edu/resabout/culture/

Resources About Special Education http://www.ncela.gwu.edu/resabout/sped/

How-to Tips from Teacher to Teacher for the Classroom

http://nclrc.org/teachers_corner/classroom_solutions_yana/writing_speaking_activities.html

18)  Q What is required by the state to be certified to teach ELLs?
A
ELL Teacher Certification
The No Child Left Behind federal legislation requires that teachers be licensed in the area(s) they teach. The licensure requirements to teach ELLs in Virginia include obtaining a passing score on the Virginia Communication and Language Assessment (VCLA) effective January 1, 2006 (or qualifying Praxis I/SAT/ACT in lieu of VCLA until December 31, 2006) and a license to teach ELLs in Virginia or have the necessary coursework to qualify for a teaching license. You may qualify for a provisional Virginia ESL license if you have completed 6 out of the 8 ESL endorsement courses and the passing ESL credits are listed on an official transcript from an accredited college or university. The requirements are listed below.
8 VAC 20-21-250. English as a Second Language preK-12.

A. The program in English as a Second Language will ensure that the candidate has demonstrated the following competencies:

1. Knowledge of general linguistics and English linguistics;

2. Skills in elementary and secondary teaching methods and student assessment for English as a Second Language;

3. Skills in the teaching of reading;

4. Knowledge of the effects of socio-cultural variables in the instructional setting;

5. Proficiency in spoken and written English;

6. Knowledge of another language and its structure; and

7. Understanding of and proficiency in grammar, usage, and mechanics and their integration in writing.

B. Endorsement requirements. The candidate must have:

1. Graduated from an approved teacher preparation program in English as a Second Language; or

2. Completed a major in English as a Second Language or 24 semester hours of course work distributed in the following areas:

a. Teaching of reading: 3 semester hours
b. English linguistics (including phonology, morphology, syntax of English): 3 semester hours
c. Cross-cultural education: 3 semester hours
d. Modern foreign languages (if an applicant's primary language is other than English, all hours must be in English): 6 semester hours
e. Electives in: second language acquisition, general linguistics, applied linguistics, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics ESL assessment, or ESL curriculum development: 6 semester hours
f. Methods of teaching English as a Second Language at the elementary and secondary levels: 3 semester hours
19)  Q What are some myths about ELLs?
A