English Language Learners (ELL) Program

Goal

The English Language Learner (ELL) Program at the Renton School District promotes cross-cultural understanding, and provides access to a rigorous academic curriculum while supporting students' growth in language acquisition.

Model

Renton School District offers a continuum of services that are responsive to the needs of the students it serves (18% of the total student population). At the most basic level, all RSD teachers are encouraged to be trained in Sheltered Instruction, which ensures they teach in a way that bilingual students can understand. Other services may range from EL staff consultation with teachers and principals, to newcomer students learning targeted language development in small groups.

Purpose

To provide ELLs with equal education access and benefits.
To help staff and students understand the benefits of being multi-lingual, and to use multi-lingual families' culture and funds of knowledge to help students and the school community.
To enable ELLs to become competent in listening, speaking, reading and writing English as outlined in the English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS).
To give ELLs the opportunity to experience early academic success while they learn English as a second language.
To build knowledge and learning in content areas as students acquire English.
To comply with federal/state legal regulations concerning the education of English Language Learners.