ESL Program Description

 All new students enrolling in Rockingham County Schools will complete the Home Language Survey, which is part of every enrollment packet. If a student is identified as a language minority student based on the Home Language Survey then the student will be tested to determine their English language proficiency level.

   In June 2008, the North Carolina State Board of Education approved the adoption of the WIDA Consortium English language proficiency standards for the 2008-09 school year. The World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment Consortium, otherwise known as the WIDA Consortium, is comprised of states who share English language standards and assessments that are aligned to those standards.

Beginning with the 2008-09 school year the WIDA ACCESS Placement Test, also referenced as the

 W-APT, will be administered to all initially enrolled language minority students. This test functions as a screener that is used for the initial assessment and English as a Second Language (ESL) program placement of students who are identified as limited English proficient (LEP). The annual test, ACCESS for ELLs (Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to State for English Language Learners), is designed to satisfy NCLB requirements for Title III.

If the student is identified as Limited English Proficient (LEP) based on the language proficiency score then the student is then entered into the LEP database and services are determined for the student at the school level.

Any student identified as LEP is eligible for services. Within Rockingham County Schools there are a variety of program models. Most of elementary students are served in either a pull-out or inclusion model of instruction.  Most of the secondary ESL students are served in an ESL elective class. The program model descriptions are described in detail below: