Strategic Interventions for English Learners Long Beach Unified School District Chris Dominguez, Deputy Superintendent Pamela Seki, Director, Program Assistance for Language Minority Students

Strategic Interventions for English Learners Long Beach Unified School District Goals: Accelerate English language acquisition Meet academic achievement standards

Strategic Interventions for English Learners Long Beach Unified School District Guiding Approaches: Data-based Decision-making / Problem Solving Response to Intervention Adapted from: Response to Intervention: Policy Considerations and Implementation Council of Administrators of Special Education

Strategic Interventions for English Learners Problem Solving Model: Long Beach Unified School District DEFINE PROBLEM ANALYZE DEVELOP PLAN EVALUATE

Strategic Interventions for English Learners Define the problem... Is there a problem? What is it? Non-strategic / random interventions Learning gaps not diagnosed Instruction not differentiated (time and intensity) Under-utilized supplemental resources Long Beach Unified School District

Strategic Interventions for English Learners Analyze... Why is it happening? Lack of intervention curricula Site teachers unable / unwilling to work additional hours Site administrators need technical guidance, assistance to organize comprehensive program Long Beach Unified School District

Strategic Interventions for English Learners Develop a plan... What shall we do about it? Consider multi-tier model – Response to Intervention (RtI) Tier 1 - Core instructional interventions: all students, all settings, preventative & proactive Tier 2 - Targeted Group Interventions: some students, high efficiency, rapid response Tier 3 - Intensive, individual interventions: individual students, intense, durable procedures Long Beach Unified School District

Strategic Interventions for English Learners Develop a plan... What shall we do about it? Supplemental instruction (tier2) for students with poor response to core instructional interventions (tier 1) Problem-solving interventions Traditional Site team uses functional academic and behavioral assessments Individualized program is designed to address student needs Standard treatment protocol interventions Evidence-based / standard practices for predictable difficulties Systematic, structured, scripted - fidelity Small group delivery Long Beach Unified School District

Strategic Interventions for English Learners Develop a plan... What shall we do about it? Select focus group: English learners in grades Preponderance of Program Improvement schools English learners not responding to 4+ years of instruction Accumulated ELAP resources Long Beach Unified School District

Strategic Interventions for English Learners Develop a plan... What shall we do about it? Lack of intervention curricula Analyze achievement gaps / data trends using multiple indicators Task-analyze specific skills contained in state standards Identify target populations / student profiles using data Long Beach Unified School District

Strategic Interventions for English Learners Develop a plan... What shall we do about it? Lack of intervention curricula Create curricula for extended-day program that facilitate language / literacy development at varying proficiency levels (academic vocabulary and structures) Frontload / reinforce content area concepts and language Design placement, formative, and summative assessment tools Identify supplemental materials to support curricula Long Beach Unified School District

Strategic Interventions for English Learners Develop a plan... What shall we do about it? Year One Intervention Curricula: all courses include Step Up to Writing strategies Language Development through Science Language Development through U.S. History English language development with a focus on the academic vocabulary and grammatical structures needed to access the regular-day core course Student Profile:CELDT = INT – ADV CST/ELA = BB (high) – B Grade 8 Long Beach Unified School District

Strategic Interventions for English Learners Develop a plan... What shall we do about it? Year One Intervention Curricula: all courses include Step Up to Writing strategies Language Development through Math I English language development with a focus on the academic vocabulary and prerequisite math skills needed to access Algebra core course Student Profile:CELDT = EADV – ADV CST/ELA = B – ADV P CST/Math = FBB - B Grades Long Beach Unified School District

Strategic Interventions for English Learners Develop a plan... What shall we do about it? Year One Intervention Curricula: all courses include Step Up to Writing strategies Language Development / Foundations I English language development for students who have not yet developed oral proficiency and need intensive instruction in word study and phonics, reading comprehension and fluency Student Profile: 3 years in U.S. school Low oral, low literacy skills CELDT = BEG - INT CST/ELA = FBB - B Grades Long Beach Unified School District

Strategic Interventions for English Learners Develop a plan... What shall we do about it? Year One Intervention Curricula: all courses include Step Up to Writing strategies Language Development / Foundations II English language development for students who have oral proficiency and need extensive instruction in reading comprehension strategies and writing skills Student Profile: > 3 years in U.S. school High oral, low l literacy skills CELDT = BEG - INT CST/ELA = FBB - B Grades Long Beach Unified School District

Strategic Interventions for English Learners Develop a plan... What shall we do about it? Year One Intervention Curricula: Language Development / Foundations III English language development which integrates the teaching of grammar and vocabulary with lessons on literature, reading, and writing Student Profile: Close to reclassifying CELDT = INT - ADV CST/ELA = B Grades Long Beach Unified School District

Strategic Interventions for English Learners Develop a plan... What shall we do about it? Develop cadre of intervention teachers, district-wide Recruit via Superintendents Bulletin, former supplemental program participants, coaches, trainers Create training modules for each intervention course, Step Up to Writing strategies Match teachers credentials, preferences to available assignments Maintain substitute list Long Beach Unified School District

Strategic Interventions for English Learners Develop a plan... What shall we do about it? Meet with individual site administrative / support staff: Review site-level student achievement data Match treatment to identified need Identify funding resources Select from menu of treatment protocols Long Beach Unified School District

Strategic Interventions for English Learners Develop a plan... What shall we do about it? Saturday School Implementation – Year One (Spring 2007) Nine schools signed on; approximately 700 student participants Facilitation by central office: Student placement Teacher placement Course outlines & pacing charts Professional development Supplemental materials procurement Parent/guardian contact Long Beach Unified School District

Strategic Interventions for English Learners Evaluate... Did our plan work? Summer 2007 Based on administrative, teacher and student participants feedback: Summative assessments re-written to more closely reflect standards and instruction Additional course outlines created: Language Development through Science 6 & 7 Language Development through Math II Language Development through Ancient World History Long Beach Unified School District

Strategic Interventions for English Learners Evaluate... Did our plan work? Fall 2007 Based on administrative, teacher and student participants feedback: Aspiring Administrators selected, trained, and assigned to each site Additional training for returning teachers Extended training for new teachers Intervention Specialist to provide counseling as needed at sites Reminder postcards sent at vacation intervals Long Beach Unified School District

Strategic Interventions for English Learners Contact Information Chris Dominguez, Deputy Superintendent (562) Pamela Seki, Director, PALMS (562) Long Beach Unified School District