About the ESOL Program
The ESOL program at Pineview Elementary School is a "pull-out" program. This means that we "pull-out" our ESOL students from their regular homeroom during the day to teach them "English" in a separate classroom. We do this everyday for about 50--135 minutes, depending on the language proficiency or grade level of each student. We follow the same Sunshine State Standards/Language Arts curriculum as required by the Leon County School District. We also follow the standards established by the national TESOL organization. We use effective ESOL strategies to teach our students and we try to develop their vocabulary as quickly as possible. We believe that parents should maintain their native language at home as much as possible. In fact, we encourage parents to promote native language literacy at home by reading to their child in their native language.
How to Qualify for the ESOL Program
As a parent, when you register your child at school, you will fill out a green registration form. If you check "Yes" to any of the 3 questions in the Home Language Survey section, then by Florida state law, we are required to test your child for English proficiency within 20 days. First, we will give your child a listening/speaking test. If your child tests "Non-English Speaking" or "Limited English Speaking", then your child qualifies for the ESOL program. If your child tests "Fluent English Speaking", then your child does NOT qualify for the ESOL program. But if your child is in 3rd, 4th or 5th grade and tests "Fluent English Speaking", then we are required to give him/her a reading/writing test. At this point, if your child tests "Non-English Reader/Writer" or "Limited English Reader/Writer", then your child qualifies for the ESOL program. If your child tests "Competent English Reader/Writer", then your child does NOT qualify for the ESOL program.
|
Listening/Speaking Test |
Non-English Speaking |
Limited English Speaking |
Fluent English Speaking |
| |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Reading/Writing Test
(for 3rd, 4th and 5th grade) |
Non-English Reader/Writer |
Limited English Reader/Writer |
Competent English Reader/Writer |
| |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Enrollment in the ESOL Program
On average, most ESOL students enroll in the program for 2-3 years. Each student progresses at a different pace. Some students may exit out of the program in 1 year. Some students may take longer than 3 years. If a student has been in the program for 3 years, then we are required to test him/her for every year thereafter he/she stays in the program.
Exiting the ESOL Program
We exit an ESOL student ONLY when the student has demonstrated that he/she is ready to be mainstreamed into the regular classroom full-time. This decision is made after consulting with the homeroom teacher, ESOL teacher and parents. Students in grade 2 must have completed 3 years of ESOL plus scoring proficient on the CELLA test in listening/speaking, reading and writing. Students in grades 3--5 must score proficient on the CELLA test AND at least a level 3 on the FCAT reading test. Students who did not complete 3 years of ESOL can only be exited by the ELL committee. After exiting the program, we will monitor the student for 2 years. If the student performs poorly, then a meeting is called to decide if the student needs to return to the ESOL program.
LEP (Limited English Proficient) Committee
At Pineview, the LEP Committee consists of the principal, homeroom teacher, ESOL teacher, and guidance counselor. The purpose of the committee is to oversee ESOL students' academic and social welfare. Any member of the committee may call for a meeting. NOTE: If an ESOL student is be retained, his/her parents MUST be notified. The ESOL teacher must document the meetings and file the minutes in the ESOL student's LEP file.
Taking Standardized Tests Required by the State and School District
If an ESOL student has been in the program for 1 year or less, he/she may be exempt from taking standardized tests, such as the FCAT and Stanford 10. Generally, we encourage all students to take these tests because they need the practice. The test scores do not count if the student has been in the ESOL program for 2 years or less. Under Florida state law, we are required to provide certain accommodations for ESOL students when they are taking these tests. They may
1. Receive extra time to finish their tests
2. Use a bilingual dictionary
3. Go to a separate classroom to take the tests with the ESOL teacher
If you have any questions or concerns, please e-mail changs@leonschools.net or call (850) 488-2819.