Categorical Programs

 

ELL - English Language Learners

    (Formerly ESL - English as a Second Language)

For information contact your child's school office or Categorical Programs office at:

      425-204-2283.

 Renton School District provides a Spanish Family Involvement Hotline for Spanish speaking families. Families are encouraged to call and leave their messages regarding school issues or concerns. The interpreter is available to return calls on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

The SPANISH FAMILY HOTLINE number is: 425- 204-2299

 

WHAT IS ELL?

 

English Language Learner (ELL) is a school program: 

  • Provided for students who do not speak English as their native language.
  • Designed to develop the student's English proficiency.

Research-based instruction is used:

  • English listening and speaking skills are taught first, then reading and writing skills.
  • Our ELL teachers  and  paraprofessionals work in collaboration with the classroom teachers to effectively teach ELL students.

Elementary level ELL students:

  • Participate in their mainstream classes as well as scheduled ELL instruction in small groups based on each student’s proficiency and grade levels.
  • The development of listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in English is emphasized.

Secondary level ELL program:

  • Designed to provide ELL students focused English language development while they are taking the regular curriculum in English.

The ELL program ensures equal access to the school system’s instructional program for limited English proficiency students.

 

STUDENT ELIGIBILITY FOR ELL/ESL

 

How Do I Know If My Student is Eligible for the ELL Program?

  • The district will give students the Washington  State Language Proficiency test.
  • Students who score with limited proficiency levels on the test will be eligible for ELL services.
  • Parents or guardians are notified whether they qualify for ELL services or not.

How Long are Students in the ELL Program? 

  • Students remain in the ELL program until they have mastered the skills needed to pass the annual Washington Language Proficiency Test, which is given each spring.
  • Parents/guardians will receive a letter and the test results indicating if they passed.

STUDENT ENROLLMENT IN THE ELL/ESL PROGRAM

Your student must be registered at school before registering for ELL/ESL services.

School Registration Packet

All new families are given a registration packet from their student’s school with necessary forms to complete and return to the school office.

Home Language Survey

A Home Language Survey form is completed at registration, which indicates if a language other than English is spoken at home or by the student.  Parents also fill out an ELL Program Referral form.

Testing

Students who are referred to ELL are given an English Language Proficiency Placement Test (WLPT-II) to determine their English skills.

Notification

Parents or guardians are notified in writing whether or not their student qualifies for ELL/ESL Services.

 DID YOU KNOW ?

  • More than 29% of the students in the Renton School District speak a language other than English.

  • There are at least 85 home languages or dialects other than English represented in the Renton School District.

  • The number of ELL/ESL students served in the Renton School District has increased by over 54% since 2000.

  • Many useful school forms are available in the top five languages.

  • There are ELL/ESL classes for adults available at the Renton Technical College.

  • Parents and families are important to every student's learning and can have a positive effect on a child's academic achievement.

PARENT AND STUDENT RESOURCES

Websites:  

Bilingual Books:

Websites: These websites and links are listed as possible resources for your use but are organizations outside of the Renton School District site and therefore are not endorsed by the District.  Every effort to give accurate and up to date information has been made. However, it is your responsibility to view the contents of any web page referenced from this list for content appropriateness. You are also subject to each individual site's privacy policy.