English Language Development

English Language Development (ELD) is a program for students who speak or hear a language other than English at home.  All students who enter the school district complete the Language Use Survey.  Based on the survey responses, students who speak or hear another language are screened to determine if they qualify for ELD services.

ELD Program Models:

• Kindergarten—Students meet in a small group with an ELD specialist teacher 2 or 3 times a week for 30 minutes in their schools to work on basic vocabulary, letters & sounds, and grade level language.
   
• 1st-5th grades—Students ride a bus to Fleetridge Elementary to attend the ELD Center.  Each grade level attends one day a week (approximately 9:45-11:15 for 1st grades; 9:45-1:15 for 2nd-5th grades).  Students work with an ELD specialist teacher to preview or review readings from the regular classroom ELA materials.  They also address language of math, science, and social studies.  Students will extend their ability to use academic English through study and practice of vocabulary, grammar, listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
  • Some students who are just beginning to learn English may also see an ELD specialist teacher in a one-on-one or small group setting in their schools.
     
• 6th-12th grades—Students may have 1 to 3 hours of class with an ELD specialist teacher to work on developing their academic language skills. 
  • Students who are just beginning to learn English will have more hours of ELD classes. 
  • Students who have been in the program and are passing at least 5 classes each semester may be placed on "Advanced Status."  These students will not have any ELD courses, but they will meet with an ELD specialist teacher at least 3 times per semester, and the ELD specialist teacher will monitor students' grades weekly.  Students who fail 3 or more courses will be brought back into ELD classes no later than the next semester.