So...an ELL is made...now where does he/she go?

So...last time we discussed how an English Language Learner (or ELL) comes to be (at least in California, per State expectations).

So? Now what?

A Little Bit of Politics

Well, this is where it depends on how much of the anti-bilingual "cool-aid" your particular district took back at the turn of the century (I LOVE saying that) when a certain Mr. Unz (no relation to education whatsoever) decided to go on a personal crusade and abolish all bilingual education in the State of California. Some districts today have intact bilingual programs while some did completely away with them, hauled them out like trash and never looked back. Many are somewhere in between.

I know, I know, especially for those of you from other parts of the country, you might think this is only a tall tale, a fictitious "bogey man" made up to make sure we cherish, value and nurture our bilingual programs. But alas, no, it was quite real, Proposition 227 came to pass, and ever since then, bilingual education programs have come back in fits and starts, or not at all, depending on how much of a red mark that left on your particular corner of this usually blue state. as I alluded to above.

[Sorry for the political history but education IS political].

ELL Instructional Programs

So we get to your district, and more than likely, your school's main office. When that newly identified ELL is enrolling, this is what is supposed to happen:
1. The parents are told/reminded/made to understand of their child's ELL status
2. The parents are informed of the academic programs offered by the school and/or district that are most appropriate to the ELL
3. Parents make an informed decision based on appropriate program placement, ease of getting to the school where the program is offered, navigating school transfer procedures if appropriate, etc.
It should also be noted that State law states that this must be done by a certificated staff member (i.e. NOT the school "secretary" or administrative assistant, clerk, etc.)

So...are we talking just bilingual programs? What IS an "APPROPRIATE" academic program?

So glad you asked :).

No, absolutely not, PARTICULARLY when we are talking about ELLs who happen to come from countries where a language is spoken for which we do not offer a bilingual program. In the vast majority of bilingual programs, the other language represented is Spanish, not surprising as over 8 in 10 of our ELLs come with Spanish as their primary, native or somehow stronger language. What should be surprising is that the vast majority of our ELLs now are children who were born and have been schooled in this country for years. But that's fodder for another day....

And speaking of another day, let's leave it there for now. Let's look next at the seldom known "official" default program for ELLs (per the legacy of the law that was once Proposition 227) known as Structured English Immersion and contrast it with bilingual programs (themselves a "hot mess.")

Until next time!