English Learners (EL)

Mission and Goals

Mission

Ames Community School District strives to prepare English Learners who are socially and academically confident, bicultural, and multilingual through welcoming and engaging students and their families in the educational process.

Goals

There are two main goal areas for our Language Instruction Educational Program (LIEP): language and academic. English language proficiency LIEP Goal: The average time for an EL to exit the EL program will be less than four years.

Increase the percentage of ELs making growth on at least one subtest of the annual English language proficiency assessment.
Decrease the number of Long-Term English Learners (LTELs – defined as more than four full academic years in the Ames EL program).

Academic Goal: Decrease the percentage of non-proficient ELs in reading and math on the statewide assessment.

Educational Approach

Elementary

Ames Elementary English Language Learners may experience one of or a combination of the following models:

Pull-out

Students spend most of the school day in a regular classroom, but are pulled out for a portion of each day to receive instruction in English as a second language.

Push-in

Students may remain in the regular classroom and receive English language support from the classroom teacher or the EL teacher.

Middle School

English Language Learners are assigned to EL classes for one or two periods, in addition to an EL study hall. EL classes are typically divided according to English proficiency, as well as grade level. Classes are focused on English language development and an introduction to American culture using a variety of strategies. Class time may also be used to support English Language Learners with their content area coursework.

High School

Sheltered classes are available for English Language Learners to receive required high school credit in US History, World Studies, Algebra and English. EL Reading is offered as an individualized class based on the English Language Learner’s level of English proficiency. EL Beginner and EL Intermediate levels help develop the foundational skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing.