The Beacon City School District is comprised of more than 2,700 students with an average of 9.6% ELL students. In New York State, the top languages represented are Spanish (64.8), Chinese (8.9), Arabic (5.6), Bengali (2.8), Russian (1.8), Haitian Creole (1.7), Urdu (1.6) and French (1.0). This has remained the same for the last seven years.
The Beacon City School District offers ENL programs at all schools for students learning English as a new language who speak languages other than English at home. ENL program participation is based on state assessment (NYSITELL) and an interview which helps determine the level of service required. Students receive language instruction through “stand alone” ENL classes and/or through “integrated” ENL class.
Stand Alone ENL: Stand alone ENL is when a student receives instruction in order to acquire the English language needed for success in core content classes (English Language Arts, mathematics, science and social studies). Stand alone ENL often, but not always, takes place in the ENL classroom where students work in small groups so they feel comfortable taking risks with language. Only students at the first two English proficiency levels (entering and emerging) receive stand-alone ENL.
Integrated ENL: Integrated ENL is for all English language learners at all English proficiency levels (entering, emerging, transitioning, expanding and commanding). During integrated ENL, students receive core content area and English language development instruction simultaneously, often in the mainstream classroom. Integrated ENL can be delivered by a teacher who is dually certified in the content area and ENL, or through co-teaching where the classroom teacher and ENL teacher plan, teach and assess together. This inclusive model also provides appropriate instructional support to enrich comprehension for ELLs.
NYSITELL: NYSITELL stands for New York State Identification Test for English Language Learners. It is a test used to measure English language skills when a student starts at a New York State school.
Entering ENL & Student Identification: When a student enters school, a parent or guardian must complete a home language identification survey. If the parent/guardian indicates that a language besides English is spoken in the home, an English as a New Language teacher, or other qualified personnel, will conduct an individual interview with the student and family. This interview considers the students' proficiency in the home language and English, as well as academic abilities in the home language.
If the results of the interview indicate a home language other than English, the student will take the New York State Identification Test for English Language Learners (NYSITELL). This assessment is used to determine eligibility for English Language Learner services.
Exiting ENL: After placement in an ESL program, progress in English is measured annually by the New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test (NYSESLAT). This state test is given each spring to all New York State English Language Learners to document their growth in English. The test identifies the proficiency level of students as Entering, Emerging, Transitioning, Expanding, or Commanding. Once an ESL student has reached the Commanding Level in Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing, they are provided with 2 years of transitional English as a New Language service.
