English as a Second Language (ESL) Program
The Texas Education Code, Chapter 89, requires school districts to identify students of limited language proficiency, based on criteria established by the state, and to serve those students by providing an English as a Second Language program and a bilingual program, where applicable.
In Leakey ISD, the English as a Second Language (ESL) program is designed to provide instruction for the content areas and for concept development using research-based practices to ensure achievement of English language learners (ELLs). A "student of limited English proficiency (LEP)" is defined as “a student whose primary language is one other than English and whose English language skills are such that the student has difficulty performing ordinary class work in English.” The terms LEP and English language learners (ELLs) are used interchangeably. ESL programs are provided at the Elementary, Secondary and High School levels.
The ESL program emphasizes the mastery of English language skills, as well as mathematics, science and social studies, as integral parts of the academic goals for all students to enable ELLs to participate equitably in school. As part of the program, instruction in ESL will match the student's English proficiency level and his/her academic level. Teachers within the program are required to have ESL certification or endorsement through the Texas State Board for Educator Certification. Instruction is provided through the use of state-adopted ESL instructional materials, additional supplementary materials, as well as other resources and adaptations as needed to address curriculum requirements, as denoted in the TEKS, English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS), and College and Career Readiness Standards (CCRS).
The ELPS address the students’ English acquisition in the domains of listening, speaking, reading comprehension and writing compositions. Students are measured at four different proficiency levels of beginning, intermediate, advanced and advanced high levels of proficiency. Each year, ELL students are assessed in their level of English language mastery through the Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System “TELPAS” test, in which they are rated according to their performance on a collection of writing samples, a reading comprehension test and a teacher’s assessment of their listening and speaking ability levels.
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