EL Programs and Bilingual Program Services Waiver

All English Learner programs have two goals: English fluency Academic success

Two English Program Models Structured English Immersion (SEI) (for students at beginning levels of English proficiency) English Learner Mainstream (ELM) (for students at intermediate and advanced levels of English proficiency)

Structured English Immersion (SEI) focus on English Language Development (ELD) English instruction Spanish language support adapted instruction (SDAIE) to help students access core content

English Learner Mainstream (ELM) All-English instruction Daily English Language Development (ELD) instruction Adapted instruction (SDAIE) to help students access core content

Two Bilingual Program Models Structured Biliteracy – for English Learners Two-Way Immersion – for English Learners and Native English Speakers

Structured Biliteracy Program (SBP) Develops literacy in both English and Spanish Materials in English and Spanish Begins with predominantly Spanish instruction in kindergarten (70%) and ends with 70% English instruction in 5th grade Includes daily lessons in English Language Development (ELD) and adapted instruction to provide full access to the core (SDAIE) Requires a “Parental Exception Waiver”

Two-Way Program (TWP) For English or Spanish speakers who begin the program in kindergarten or first grade Develops literacy in both English and Spanish Materials in English and Spanish Includes daily lessons in English Language Development (ELD) and adapted instruction to provide full access to the core (SDAIE) Requires a “Parental Exception Waiver”

ELM SEI SBP TWP Intermediate and Advanced Beginning Any level English Proficiency Intermediate and Advanced Beginning Any level Must begin in Kinder or 1st English Language Development Required Content Instruction Specially Designed (adapted) Academic Instruction in English (SDAIE) Focus on ELD and SDAIE SDAIE and Spanish Content Spanish Content Core Curriculum Simultaneous Access Language of Instruction English English/ Spanish support English and Materials Parental Waiver Not required Required for English Learners

Waivers for Bilingual Program Services Every district must have a waiver procedure to enable parents to request Bilingual program services for their children. Districts must provide parents with a written description of its Bilingual program services. School sites must respond in writing to parent’s requests for Bilingual program services within 20 days of receiving the written request.

Waivers for Bilingual program services are not required for: FEP students. Special education students whose IEP’s call for primary language instruction. Students to receive primary language support in an SEI setting. Primary language instruction within SEI or mainstream programs.

How may parents apply for Bilingual Program services? Parents must visit their son or daughter’s school and meet with a site administrator to receive information on the program options and the educational materials used for the various programs. Parents must submit the “Request for Waiver for Bilingual Services” form to the site administrator.

Is a school required by law to offer Bilingual Program services? If more than 20 or more parents per grade elect to have Bilingual program services, the school is required by law to provide that instructional program. If there are less than 20 students per grade level, the school may offer a program or allow for enrollment at another school if the parent chooses.