English as a Second Language (ESL)

Mission:

Ensure that all English Learners (ELs) have equitable access to a high-quality education.

Goals:

Language: ELs Acquire English proficiency within a reasonable time period.

Content: ELs work toward, and eventually master, content-area standards.

Family Engagement:  Provide parents with the school-related information they need to make informed decisions about, and be helpful participants in, their children’s education.

The Lee County Schools’ ESL Department:

• Identifies English Learners (ELs).
• Develops Individualized English Language Plans (IELPs) for ELs.
• Ensures that ELs have meaningful access to grade-level curriculum.
• Supports general education teachers who implement the core program, ESL.
• Provides a supplementary language assistance program.
• Addresses ELs with disabilities equitably.
• Assesses ELs’ progress toward attaining English proficiency.
• Exits and Monitors ELs.
• Evaluates the ESL program.
• Provides "meaningful communication" with parents, in their native language.
• Provides on-going EL-related professional development opportunities for faculty and staff.
• Employs a staff who advocate for ELs at the local, regional and state levels.