English Language Learner (ELL) Program, Hawaii Department of Education

The statewide English Language Learner (ELL) Program ensures students with limited English proficiency have access to educational opportunities by providing services that assist these students with the attainment of English language proficiency, develop high levels of academic attainment in English, and meet the same challenging State academic content and student achievement standards all students are expected to meet. Services to ELL Program students include instructional services consisting of English as a Second Language (ESL) type instruction and acculturation activities. The ELL Program supports Hawaii Department of Education’s mission to provide standards-based education through supplementaryinstructional and acculturation activities.

Services to ELL Program students implement the requirements of many laws. Title III of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (Title III) is one of the laws being implemented. Title III requires ELL Program students attain English proficiency, and meet the same challenging academic standards all students are expected to meet. Services provided through the ELL Program also implement the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its regulations, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs and activities that receive federal funds. With regard to students with limited English proficiency, Title VI and its regulations require that these students are able to participate in, or benefit from, regular or special education instructional programs.

The following standards and documents help to guide the ELL Program instruction for students in the acquisition of language and academic content. The documents themselves are also linked below.

• Hawaii Content Performance Standards III (HCPS III)
• The HCPS III guide academic content instruction for ELLs.
  
  

• Common Core State Standards
• Beginning with school year 2011-12, the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, Technical Subjects, as well as Common Core State Standards for Mathematics will also be phased in to eventually replace the HCPS III.
  
  

• World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) English Language Proficiency (ELP) Standards
• The WIDA ELP Standards were adopted by the Hawaii Department of Education by approval of the Board of Education on May 21, 2009. They are aligned with the HCPS III, and help to guide English language development and instruction for ELLs. The WIDA ELPStandards also serve as the basis for the summative annual ELP assessment to determine whether a student is making progress or has achieved the ELL exit requirements.
  
  

• WIDA Consortium English Language Proficiency Standards Resource Guide
• The WIDA Consortium English Language Proficiency Standards Resource Guide provides teachers and administrators with tools to aid in the design of curriculum, instruction, and assessment for ELLs and includes the WIDA ELP Standards.
  
  

• Hawaii English Language Proficiency Standards (HELPS)
• The previously developed HELPS are no longer the official Hawaii ELP standards. The HELPS can be used as a tool to assist teachers with formative instruction and assessment aligned to the HCPS III.

There are two assessments used to identify and provide appropriate services for students.

• WIDA-ACCESS Placement Test™ (W-APT™ )
• Students who may be limited English proficient are tested for English language proficiency when they first enter school using the W-APT ™ . The results of the W-APT ™ help determine what kind of English language support is needed for the students to progress in school. Appropriate services are then provided to help students work towards the HCPS III and WIDA ELP Standards.
  
  

• Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners (ACCESS for ELLs ® )
• Beginning with the school year 2009-2010, ELL Program students are annually tested using the Hawaii Department of Education adopted WIDA English language proficiency assessment, t he ACCESS for ELLs ® . The ACCESS for ELLs ® test i s used t o deter mine a student’s language progress and proficiency in developing English.
  
  

For more information about your school’s ELL Program, you may contact your school principal . For general questions and more information about the state ELL program, or about Title III, you may contact:

More...

• World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) Consortium
  
  

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