| WHAT IS THE BILINGUAL
PROGRAM? |
The bilingual
program is designed to help limited English proficient (LEP) students achieve competency
in English and related skills required for learning. Children are provided with
instruction in English as a second language (ESL), assistance with content area
information in the home language when necessary, and reinforcement of the importance of
their distinct culture. |
| WHAT IS A LIMITED
ENGLISH PROFICIENT STUDENT? |
To
be classified as LEP, a child must meet one of the following preconditions:
- Be born in a non-English speaking
country outside of the United States;
- Have a native language other than
English as most relied upon for communication;
- Come from a home in which a
language other than English is most relied upon for communication;
- Be a Native American or Alaskan
Native who comes from an environment in which a language other than
- English has had a significant
impact on the child’s level of English language proficiency.
- Secondly, as a result of one or
more of the preconditions, the child must have sufficient difficulty understanding,
speaking, reading or writing the English language as to deny the child the opportunity to
learn in an English only classroom environment.
|
| WHAT DOES THE
BILINGUAL PROGRAM OFFER? |
- Tutoring assistance to LEP
students designed to teach English and help students keep up with their studies.
- Assistance to local school
districts in meeting the needs of their LEP students.
- Inservice training of local
district staff in the areas of bilingual and multicultural education and teaching English
as a second language.
- Maintenance of a resource center
for current information and materials relating to ESL, bilingual and multicultural
education.
- Compliance assistance with all
state and federal requirements for bilingual education programs for constituent districts.
- Hiring and training of
appropriate bilingual instructional staff to meet the linguistic needs of the students in
local districts.
|
FUNDING
SOURCE |
- State of Michigan Section 41
funding.
- Local school district funding.
|
WHO
IS ELIGIBLE? |
Students in
grades K through 2 whose home language is other than English and are limited English
proficient (LEP).
Students in
grades 3 through 12 whose home language is other than English, who are limited English
proficient (LEP) and who score below the 40th %ile on a standardized reading test.
|
HOW
CAN A STUDENT ENTER THE BILINGUAL PROGRAM? |
Eligible students from any of the participating Wayne county
school districts are referred by the local district representative by using an official
referral form to the Wayne County RESA bilingual office. The program director will then
assign an instructional staff person to assess the student’s needs and provide needed
assistance. |
HOW
LONG CAN A STUDENT PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM? |
Eligible students can receive service for as long as the the
student is eligible and the district requests assistance. |
WHAT
ARE THE STUDENT EXIT CRITERIA? |
- Parents request in writing that
services be discontinued.
- Student achieves a score over the
40th %ile in broad English ability and is functioning adequately in an English 0nly
environment.
|
