Title III and ESOL

Chapter 7: Serving Students with Special Needs IDEA Section 504 ESOL Chapter 8 – Student Discipline, Suspension, and Expulsion Student Handbook Student’s Rights and Responsibilities Disciplining Students with Disabilities FERPA Chapter 5 – Educational Program Curriculum & Instructional Design Meeting the Needs of Struggling Learners Chapter 6: Goals/Objectives & Evaluation Goals/Objectives Progress Monitoring State (Summative) and Formative Assessments Educational/Academic Sections the Charter Application

Charter School Application-Assurances R. Will adhere to all provisions of federal law relating to students who are limited English proficient (LEP), including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of S.C. Code Ann. § (B)(1)

Why do we serve English Language Learners (ELL)? Forty years ago, the Supreme Court of the United States determined that in order for public schools to comply with their legal obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, they must take affirmative steps to ensure that students with limited English proficiency (LEP) can meaningfully participate in their educational programs and services. That same year, Congress enacted the Equal Educational Opportunities Act (EEOA), which confirmed that public schools and state educational agencies (SEAs) must act to overcome language barriers that impede equal participation by students in their instructional programs.

English Learner (EL) Tool Kit The U.S. Departments of Education (ED) and Justice (DOJ) released joint guidance on January 7, 2015, reminding states, school districts and schools of their obligations under federal law to ensure that English Learners have equal access to a high-quality education and the opportunity to achieve their full academic potential. In this context, the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) at the U.S. Department of Education is pleased to provide the English Learner (EL) Tool Kit, a companion to the Office for Civil Rights and Department of Justice “Dear Colleague Letter” (DCL). The tool kit is designed to help state and local education agencies (SEAs and LEAs) in meeting their legal obligations to ELs and in providing all ELs with the support needed to attain English language proficiency while meeting college- and career- readiness standards. The EL Tool Kit is intended primarily for state, district, school administrators, and teachers, but may also inform other stakeholders concerned with the education of ELs.

The 10 chapters of the EL Tool Kit At a minimum, the charter application should include… Chapter 1: Tools and Resources for Identifying All English Learner Students Chapter 2: Tools and Resources for Providing English Learners with a Language Assistance Program Chapter 3: Tools and Resources for Staffing and Supporting an English Learner Program Chapter 4: Tools and Resources for Providing English Learners Meaningful Access to Core Curricular and Extracurricular Programs Chapter 5: Tools and Resources for Creating an Inclusive Environment for and Avoiding the Unnecessary Segregation of English Learners Chapter 6: Tools and Resources for Addressing English Learners with Disabilities Chapter 7: Tools and Resources for Serving English Learners Who Opt Out of EL Programs Chapter 8: Tools and Resources for Monitoring and Exiting English Learners from EL Programs and Services Chapter 9: Tools and Resources for Evaluating the Effectiveness of a District’s EL Program Chapter 10: Tools and Resources for Ensuring Meaningful Communication with Limited English Proficient Parents

Title III Funding Title III, Part A funds must be used to supplement other Federal, State, and local public funds that would have been expended absent such funds. Because the civil rights laws require SEAs and school districts to take appropriate action to overcome language barriers for EL students, Title III, Part A funds may not be used to fund the activities chosen to implement an SEA’s or school district’s civil rights obligations. Thus, SEAs and school districts can use these funds only for activities beyond those necessary to comply with Federal civil rights obligations.

Resources toolkit/index.html

Contact: Vamshi Rudrapati (Mr. V) Director of Federal Programs SC Public Charter School District Phone: (803)