The ESL Program

Lower Moreland School District is a community composed of highly motivated and highly educated professionals. The ESL program is an essential part of this community. The staff in this department works hard to ensure that students with language barrier issues are receiving the services and academic opportunities that make this district so special and unique.  

Who is an ELL?

An ELL student is a valued member of the Lower Moreland school community. They are an English language learner. They may have come to our ESL program for a variety of reasons. Some reasons for a student being identified as ELL may include, but are not exclusive to the following:

            -Previous education in a language other than English.

            -Students born outside the U.S. whose native language is not English.

            -Students who use a language other than English at home.

What is ESL?

ESL, or English as a second Language, is a program designed to help students with language issues achieve at their ability level.

What are the goals of the ESL Program?

The ESL program is aligned to meet with state and district academic standards. Of course, these goals reflect a desire to help ELLs become proficient in English. Both academic and social language are taught and the desire to create a supportive learning environment is stressed. In addition to these goals, ESL teachers strive to help students participate and achieve in the mainstream setting of their grade level. 

How are students assessed?

For a student to be assessed, first they have to be identified as an ELL. Parents complete a home language survey and depending on responses to that survey additional steps may be taken. If there is reason to believe a student would benefit form ESL instruction, than a student will take a standardized English language test. This test attempts to measure a students ability in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

How are students exited from ESL?

A number of factors come into play when deciding to exit a student from ESL. Some of these factors include:

-Standardized assessments

-Report card evaluations

-ESL teacher recommendations

-Classroom/content teachers input

What is monitoring?

When a student leaves an ESL program they are still monitored. This is done to ensure that the child makes a smooth transition out of the program and back into mainstream classes. Monitoring is done by the ESL teacher and involved student, parent, and content area teachers.

If you have questions about the program please feel free to contact the following:

Justin Beck

ESL lead teacher

jbeck@lmtsd.org