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ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING Frequently Asked Questions About English Language Development
What is the 4 hour English Language Development (ELD) block? The 4 hour ELD block is an instructional program that is prescribed in terms of the curriculum and time allocation for the education of English Language Learners (ELLs). The Discrete Skills Inventory, the English Language Proficiency Standards, and the Arizona Academic Reading and Writing Standards are used in the ELD classroom to teach ELLs. How are students identified as ELL? Students who have indicated a language other than English on either the enrollment form or Home Language Survey are considered PHLOTE (Primary Home Language Other Than English). They are then assessed with the Arizona English Language Learner Assessment (AZELLA). If the AZELLA composite score is pre-emergent, emergent, basic, or intermediate, the student is an ELL. These students are then placed in an ELD classroom. Once they obtain an AZELLA composite score of proficient, they are then transferred into a mainstream English classroom. What are the assessment levels on the AZELLA, what grade levels receive the assessments and how long do they take to complete? There are 5 assessment levels on the AZELLA – Preliteracy, Primary, Elementary, Middle Grades, and High School. Preliteracy is administered to Kindergarten students. It contains the following assessment sections:
The estimated time of completion is 1 hour and 15 minutes. Primary is administered to students in Grades 1-2. It contains the following assessment sections:
The estimated time of completion is 1 hour and 30 minutes. Elementary is administered to students in Grades 3-5. It contains the following assessment sections:
The estimated time of completion is 1 hour and 30 minutes. Middle Grades is administered to students in Grades 6-8. It contains the following assessment sections:
The estimated time of completion is 1 hour and 40 minutes. High School is administered to students in Grades 9-12. It contains the following assessment sections:
The estimated time of completion is 1 hour and 40 minutes. All assessment sections of the AZELLA, except for speaking, can be administered in a large group setting. The exception to this is on the Preliteracy assessment where listening and speaking are individually administered sections of the AZELLA. When should students be assessed on AZELLA and how many times per year should they be assessed? Who administers the AZELLA assessment to ELLs? New ELLs should be assessed twice a year – once upon enrollment and once at the end of the year. Continuing ELLs should be assessed once a year – at the end of the year. Middle school can be reassessed mid-year in order to see if have scored fluent English proficient as it is easier to move these students into the mainstream without much disruption. Only intermediate students will be reassessed. Assessment and data specialists will administer the AZELLA and teachers will assist with the administration of the speaking, reading, and writing to these students whole group. High school students will be reassessed mid-year in order to measure growth and to move students into a new class based on the proficiency level. Assessment and data specialists will administer the AZELLA and teachers will assist with the administration of the speaking, reading, and writing to these students whole group as this is the current process with reassessment. Is there a need to provide on-going assessment other than AZELLA or AIMS in the ELD classroom? The Dysart Unified School District has purchased benchmark assessments in order to progress monitor the language development of ELLs in the ELD classroom. The results of these short assessments should be used to guide instruction and assist in the decision whether to administer the AZELLA for purposes of exiting the ELD classroom. What is the Discrete Skills Inventory? The Discrete Skills Inventory (DSI) encompasses the specific teaching/learning objectives derived from the Arizona K-12 English Language Learner Proficiency Standards and are synchronized with the Arizona Reading and Writing Academic Standards. ELD means English Language Development, the teaching of English language skills to students who are in the process of learning English. It is distinguished from other types of instruction, e.g., math, science, or social studies, in that the content of ELD emphasizes the English language itself. ELD instruction focuses on phonology (the sound system of language), morphology (the internal structure and forms of words), syntax (English word order rules), lexicon (vocabulary), and semantics (how to use English in different situations and contexts). The objective of the ELD classroom is to teach one or more specific identified skills within the DSI appropriate for the English language proficiency level(s) of students in the class. How are the four hours of ELD instruction to be implemented? K-8 Students who have obtained an AZELLA composite score of Pre-emergent or Emergent receive 4 hours of ELD instruction that are divided into the following specific areas with specific time allocations:
Students who have obtained an AZELLA composite score of Basic receive 4 hours of ELD instruction that are divided into the following specific areas with specific time allocations:
Students who have obtained an AZELLA composite score of Intermediate receive 4 hours of ELD instruction that are divided into the following specific areas with specific time allocations:
High School Students who have obtained an AZELLA composite score of Pre-emergent or Emergent receive 4 hours of ELD instruction that are divided into the following specific areas with specific time allocations:
Students who have obtained an AZELLA composite score of Basic receive 4 hours of ELD instruction that are divided into the following specific areas with specific time allocations:
Students who have obtained an AZELLA composite score of Intermediate receive 4 hours of ELD instruction that are divided into the following specific areas with specific time allocations:
Are there any exceptions to the four hour ELD block? At the high school level, if a student is in their second or subsequent year as an ELL and the student has scored proficient on the writing subtest of the AZELLA, they are exempt from the one hour “Academic English Writing and Grammar” class. How are ELL students grouped in order to determine how many ELD classes are necessary? All ELLs who have not reached proficiency and exited the program shall be placed in ELD (SEI) classrooms. The primary determinant of the appropriate student grouping for ELD classrooms is the English proficiency level of the students. The proficiency levels and grade levels of the ELLs must be used in order to determine appropriate student placement. Elementary School Student Groupings:
High School Groupings:
Who is responsible for placing the ELL students into the ELD classroom? At the elementary level, the Data Records Technician, along with the guidance of the principal, will place the ELL students into an ELD classroom based upon the AZELLA composite scores. At the high school, the counselors will place the ELL students into ELD classes based upon the AZELLA sub-level test scores. Do parents have the option to withdraw their child from four hours of ELD in favor of a reduced option, such as two hours of ELD? No, parents cannot withdraw their child from only a portion of an ELD program. A parent may withdraw their child from the entire ELD program and have their child placed in a mainstream classroom; however, there is no option for parents to have their child placed in an ELD program with a reduced number of ELD hours. A letter went home this summer informing parents/guardians that their child is to be placed in a 4 hour ELD block. If parents/guardians have any questions, they should contact Kathy Hill, Language Acquisition Coordinator in order to discuss the program options. The letter also contains the contact information. In which program model should students qualifying for special education services be placed? Based on results of the assessment or procedures, the Language Acquisition Coordinator and the Special Education Multidisciplinary Evaluation or IEP Team shall determine the student’s English language proficiency designation and placement. The language proficiency designation and placement will determine what, if any, ELL services a student will receive. Are ELL students who are achieving academically required to participate in ELD instruction? Yes, regardless of years in the program or academic achievement, SEI (ELD) classroom entry and exit is determined solely by AZELLA score. Do ELLs need to participate in AIMS? Yes, AIMS participation is required of all students. What are the teacher requirements in order to provide ELD instruction? For elementary school teachers, they must have the following:
For 7th and 8th grade teachers, they must have the following:
For high school teachers, they must have the following:
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