ELL Instructional Program

English Language
Learner Education
Handbook 

Home Language Survey

English Proficiency Test

English Proficiency Levels 0-5

Learning to Speak English
and Learning Academic English

The Instructional Program

ELL Program Scheduling, 
Progress, Exit and FLEP

How Parents can Help

Bedford Public Schools offers ESL in kindergarten through 12th grade. In each of the district schools, English language learners receive additional English instruction using materials that build skills in each of the four domains of reading, writing, speaking and listening. Our instruction is based on the Massachusetts English Language Proficiency Benchmarks and Outcomes, the standards for English proficiency developed by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Throughout the students' day, they learn academic content in their regular classrooms from teachers who have been trained to "shelter" the content, or are in the process of gaining this training, using strategies that increase student comprehension.

At the elementary level, students work with their grade-level peers in the classroom, and in small groups with an ESL teacher. In 2010-2011, we plan to use National Geographic's leveled Windows on Literacy among other proficiency-specific hands-on materials. This series was selected because of its comprehensive approach to teaching academic vocabulary, grammar, study skills, and phonics at appropriate grade-levels. This research-based program is designed to enable students to improve reading skills and gain non-fiction academic vocabulary, an area of need for elementary ELL students. This K-5 series introduces, complements, and reinforces what students learn in science and social studies as they improve speaking, reading, and writing skills in English. The use of leveled readers is similar to the guided reading approach of the Davis and Lane Schools, used with all students.

At the middle and high school, a more eclectic program exists due to current small numbers of students. Students currently have highly individualized programs. For 2010-2011, new texts are under review. High school students used William Smaltzer's, Write To Be Read this year as a central text.