English Learners (EL)

The 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.

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Goals

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

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 (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. The purpose of the Ames Community School District’s Lau Plan is to provide community members, parent/guardians, administrators, teachers, and students with information regarding EL programming. The contents of the plan are intended to inform the reader of program procedures and services.
Academic Goal: Decrease the percentage of non-proficient ELs in reading and math on the statewide assessment.

Educational Approach

Elementary School

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

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.

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 Learners’ level of English proficiency. EL Beginner and EL Intermediate levels help develop the foundational skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

Lau Plan

The purpose of the Ames Community School District’s Lau Plan is to provide community members, parent/guardians, administrators, teachers, and students with information regarding EL programming. The contents of the plan are intended to inform the reader of program procedures and services. The Ames CSD Lau Plan link includes translations in Spanish, Arabic, and Chinese.

Ames CSD Lau Plan