English Language Proficiency Standards

 The English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS), as required by 19 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 74, Subchapter A, §74.4, outline English language proficiency level descriptors and student expectations for English language learners (ELLs). School districts are required to implement ELPS as an integral part of each subject in the required curriculum.

 If you have a student who is Limited English Proficient (LEP) there are materials to assist you with instructing your student(s): ◦ Navigating the ELPS are available for English Language Arts, Math, Social Studies and Science as well as an overview book. ◦ If you are a high school teacher with a LEP student you will be trained in Sheltered Instruction. PISD utilizes the SIOP Model. ◦ ESC 20 houses the resources for use by all districts in Texas which includes information for teachers, parents, and administrators.

 ELL/LEP students in grades K-8 must have an English Language Arts teacher who is ESL certified (taken and passed the Texes 154 supplemental exam). There is discussion on whether it has to be the ELA teacher or if a teacher in another content can have the certification. The guidance from our ESC is to continue to have the ELA teachers certified until there is final determination.  Teachers of ELL/LEP students in grade 9-12 must receive training in Sheltered Instruction.

 You will be contacted and scheduled for discussion of strategies, needs for additional trainings and availability, receive ELPS books and other resources, and information on the levels of proficiencies of your student(s).

 When working with ELL/LEP students: ◦ Communicate with visuals, clear explanations, and speech appropriate for the language level of the student(s). ◦ Pre-teach academic and social vocabulary necessary for classroom tasks and interaction with teacher and peers. ◦ Paraphrasing and wait time; individual assistance; and providing concrete sentence and paragraph frames, patterns and models will benefit the student(s).

 These students need ◦ focused attention on vocabulary, grammar and English mechanics. ◦ formal and informal assessments of progress on language acquisition for adjustments in his or her program.

 Thank-you to those teachers who have in the past or are currently serving our ELL population. Your efforts, especially when students begin our ESL program in the early grades, show incredible gains and successes of these students.  As our LEP population grows, the need for certified ESL teachers increases. Please consider working toward your certification if you do not have it.