MOBILE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM DR. REGINALD EGGLESTON ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FEDERAL AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS TRACY H. JAY ESL/MIGRANT COORDINATOR The English as a Second Language Program

It is the goal of the ESL Program of the Mobile County Public School System to ensure all students classified as EL and/or Immigrant, are awarded all opportunities for success that any other student would be granted in the district. The ESL Department works diligently to ensure that we are in compliance with all State and Federal requirements as outlined in the law. English as a Second Language

The Civil Rights Act, Title VI 1964 “No person in the United States, on the ground of race, color or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” -42 U.S.C. § 2000d.

English as a Second Language The failure of a school system to provide English language instruction to national origin students who do not speak English, or to provide them with other adequate instruction denies them a meaningful opportunity to participate in the public educational program.- Lau v. Nichols (U.S. Supreme Court Decision, 1974).

English as a Second Language “…The undocumented status of these children does not establish a sufficient rational basis for denying them benefits that the State affords other residents…”- Plyler v. Doe (U.S. Supreme Court Decision, 1982)

MCPSS ESL Enrollment Policy All language minority children must be allowed to attend school, regardless of their ability to produce a birth certificate, social security number, or immigration documentation. Children may not be excluded from school because they do not have a social security number. All language minority children must be allowed to attend school, regardless of their ability to produce a birth certificate, social security number, or immigration documentation. Children may not be excluded from school because they do not have a social security number.

ESL Enrollment If a student entering MCPSS does not have or does not wish to give a social security card, a student identification number will be assigned by Student Services.

How We Identify our Students Every student who comes to enroll in MCPSS is required to complete a Home Language Survey. A copy is maintained on file in the student’s permanent record for the duration of their education. The Home Language Survey asks, at a minimum,  Is a language other than English frequently spoken at home?  Is your child’s first language a language other than English?  What language did your child learn when he/she first began to talk?  What language does your child most frequently speak at home?

How We Identify our Students If all responses on the Home Language Survey indicate that English is the only language, the student is considered an English-only speaker. If a student indicates anything other than English on any portion of the survey, a copy should be faxed to the ESL Office ( ) and a copy should be given to your resident ESL teacher (if applicable). For online registration, a copy will get forwarded to our office.

How We Identify our Students As we are acclimating to Online Registration, please assist our department by contacting us if you need any assistance registering any ESL student It is a federal requirement that we present the Home Language Survey, when feasible, in the students native language. Please contact us if you feel this is necessary. We will assist you.

How We Identify our Students The district utilizes TransAct to secure translated Home Language Surveys for the majority of languages in the district.

How We Identify our Students EL students are given additional time to get in the required paperwork such as immunization documentation. If after 30 days you still do not have the documentation you require, please contact Student Services. The ESL office will work closely with the student until we get the required documentation Additional information can be found on page 24 of the Student Support Services Handbook.

Employment Surveys Employment Surveys are used to identify migrant students Migrant Student  Ages 3-21, and  Is entitled to a free public education (through grade 12) under State law or is below the age of compulsory school attendance, and  Is the child of a migrant agricultural worker or migrant fisher, or poultry worker, and  The child moved within the preceding 36 months in order to seek or obtain qualifying work, or to accompany or join the migrant agricultural worker or migrant fisher in order to seek or obtain work.

Employment Surveys A migrant student may or may not be an EL. American students can be migrant. We must keep on record for every new student to the district and all Kindergarten, Sixth graders and Ninth graders.

Migrant Program Designed to help migratory children overcome educational disruption, cultural and language barriers, social isolation, various health-related problems, and other factors that may inhibit their ability to do well in school.

Migrant Program Send us all Employment Surveys at the first of the year for K, 6 and 9 th grades and whenever you get them during the year for new students. You do NOT keep employment surveys!! Employment surveys are now a part of the online registration process.

Checking for Understanding

Question Esperanza comes to register for your school. She does not have a birth certificate. Do you allow her to register? YES!

Who do you call to get a student number for Esperanza? Student Services!

How would we identify Esperanza as a potential ESL Student? Home Language Survey!

Where do we keep the Home Language Survey? Permanent Record!

How would we know if Esperanza was a Migrant student or not? Employment Survey!

Esperanza does not have a birth certificate or immunization card. Do we still let her in school? YES!!

Esperanza is potentially and ESL student. She should be immediately directed to the ESL Welcome Center to be registered. NO!

INOW You do NOT mark a student Migrant or ESL in INOW. We do this in our office. It is very important we do it as we must maintain a database of students. Remember, do NOT code our kids in INOW.

The ESL and Migrant Program We appreciate all your assistance in making our children successful. You matter to us! We appreciate you!

The ESL and Migrant Program When in doubt…… CALL US!! We will be happy to assist you, anytime!!!

For More Information Dr. Reginald Eggleston Assistant Superintendent of Federal Programs Tracy H. Jay ESL/Migrant Coordinator Jenny Rey ESL Welcome Center Resource Teacher