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PROGRAMS & SERVICES:
ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE & BILINGUAL EDUCATION
(Updated 2/28/08)

   
OVERVIEW
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The English as a Second Language (ESL)/Bilingual Education program administers funds to support programs for limited English proficient (LEP) and bilingual students. These programs are intended to provide needed resources to support high-quality instruction to help immigrant children and youth meet the same challenging performance standards expected of all Vermont students. The program also support a variety of activities related to English language acquisition, language enhancement, academic achievement and immigrant education, including:

  • Professional development for teachers working with LEP children and youth;
  • Program planning, evaluation, administration and interagency coordination; and
  • Technical assistance and other support to local education agencies that receive state subgrants.
   
LINKS TO CURRENTLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION (Updated 2/28/08)
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  ELL District Coordinators for 2008Clicking this link will open a PDF document. Adobe Reader is required. To download a FREE version of Adobe Reader, click on the yellow Get Acrobat Reader icon toward the bottom of page.  
View the current list by supervisory union.
   
 

Annual English Language Proficiency Test: 2007-2008 ACCESS for ELLs® Assessment *
Vermont’s annual English language proficiency assessment, the ACCESS for ELLs®, will be administered to all English Language Learners (ELLs) enrolled in K-12 schools throughout the state during the test window from Monday, March 3, 2008 – Friday, April 18, 2008. The links below provide information and resources to help teachers and administrators understand and administer the tests.

  • Test Overview
    The ACCESS for ELLs® stands for Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners. It is a large-scale test that first and foremost addresses the English language proficiency standards that form the core of the 16-state World-Class Design and Assessment Consortium’s (WIDA **) approach to instructing and testing English language learners. These standards incorporate a set of model performance indicators (PIs) that describe the expectations educators have of ELL students at five different grade level clusters and in five different content areas.

    • Standards (K-12): Detailed information about the WIDA Standards, including downloadable versions of WIDA's ELP Standards, 2007 Edition (formative and summative assessment frameworks), can be found at: http://www.wida.us/standards/elp.aspx.Clicking this link will open a new browser window and take you off the department's Web site.Also, at this location is the new "Understanding the WIDA English Language Proficiency Standards: A Resource Guide".

    • Proficiency Levels/Tiered Assessment: For information that will help to understand the WIDA Consortium’s K-12 English language proficiency levels and the tiered assessment system of the ACCESS for ELLs®, go to: http://www.wida.us/assessment/ACCESS.aspx.Clicking this link will open a new browser window and take you off the department's Web site.

  • Special Instructions for Handling Pre-ID Labels & Ordering Additional ACCESS for ELLs® Test Materials: Vermont (2007-2008)Clicking this link will open a PDF document. Adobe Reader is required. To download a FREE version of Adobe Reader, click on the yellow Get Acrobat Reader icon toward the bottom of page. (Added 2/28/08)
    These Vermont Special Instructions are intended to supplement the ACCESS for ELLs® Test Administration Manual (2007-2008)—Form 103, which provides generally applicable information for the 16 states that now comprise the WIDA Consortium. Due to the small size and unique circumstances in Vermont, District ELL Coordinators and Test Administrators will need to review this important information related to: 1) handling the Pre-ID Labels; and 2) ordering additional test materials.

  • 2008 ACCESS for ELLs® - Memorandum Regarding Verification Forms (for Ordering Test Booklets and Pre-ID Labels)Clicking this link will open a PDF document. Adobe Reader is required. To download a FREE version of Adobe Reader, click on the yellow Get Acrobat Reader icon toward the bottom of page.
    Use this link to view information on completing the 2008 ACCESS for ELLs® verification forms. The packet includes:

    • Memo with a chart of tasks and timelines for administering the 2008 ACCESS for ELLs®
    • Instructions for completing the verification forms
    • Blank copy of the 2008 Verification Report Form
    • Draft Flow Chart for determining ELL service status and participation in 2008 testing
    • Tier Placement Guidelines

    NOTE: The 2008 ACCESS for ELLs® Verification Forms were due back to the Vermont Department of Education by Friday, January 25, 2008.

  • ACCESS for ELLs® Test Administrator Training for 2008Clicking this link will open a PDF document. Adobe Reader is required. To download a FREE version of Adobe Reader, click on the yellow Get Acrobat Reader icon toward the bottom of page.
    This document provides specific information about the Online ACCESS for ELLs® Test Administrator Training course, offered through the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Desire2Learn system (UW-OshKosh D2L). It includes descriptions of: training goals; roles of State Facilitator, District ELL Coordinators, and Test Administrators; Registration Procedures for D2L; how to access the Web site and find technical assistance, resources and contact people. NOTE: Questions or concerns regarding the ACCESS for ELLs® Test Administrator Training should be addressed to the WIDA Help Desk at 1-866-276-7735 (toll-free) or help@wida.us.

   
 

* ACCESS for ELLs®: Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners

   
  Serving Students Learning English as a Second Language: A Guide for Vermont Educators  
Although this guide was written in 1994, it continues to serve as a reference for administrators and teachers who want to learn about the basic legal and programmatic requirements for meeting the needs of English Language Learners (ELLs). The guide provides information that remains useful and relevant for planning and implementing services at the district and school levels, especially in relation to language acquisition, bottom line legal responsibilities and civil rights policies, and district plans/procedures.
   
 
** WIDA is a consortium of 16 states dedicated to the design and implementation of high standard and equitable educational opportunities for English language learners. The original partners in this consortium included Wisconsin, Delaware, and Arkansas.
   
 

Primary/Home Language SurveyClicking this link will open a PDF document. Adobe Reader is required. To download a FREE version of Adobe Reader, click on the yellow Get Acrobat Reader icon toward the bottom of page.
State and local education agencies are required by law to identify English language learners (ELLs) who require language and academic support services. The first step in identifying ELLs with limited English proficiency is to administer the survey to all students enrolling in K-12 public and private schools in order to identify those who have a primary (first acquired) or home language other than English. Students from linguistically diverse backgrounds should be assessed to determine their level of (academic) English language proficiency.

NOTE: This form also may be download to your computer and completed using any word processing application. The form may then be submitted as an e-mail attachment. Please review the instructions included on the survey form.

   
  Archived Title III (English Language Acquisition) State Formula Grant Application for 2007-2008
Use this link to view the archived 2007-2008 grant application packet and associated materials. NOTE: The deadline for submitting a completed Title III grant was Friday, October 12, 2007.
   
CONTACT INFORMATION
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  Jim McCobb, ESL/Bilingual Programs Coordinator
(802) 828-0185 (P)
(802) 828-6563 (F)
james.mccobb@state.vt.us
   
 

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