Information and Resources for ML Families

Upon receiving the letter to inform a parent that their child has been identified as an ML, the family may “opt-out” of EL instruction by completing the form below and submitting it to the ESL teacher. We strongly recommend using our services, but parents have the right to decline them. However, students who have been “opted out” of ESL instruction are still assigned to classrooms of SEI endorsed teachers and ESL teachers will continue to monitor the student’s performance and contact the parents/guardians if progress is not satisfactory. In addition, ELLs who have been “opted out” still participate in progress monitoring assessments and the annual WIDA ACCESS test of English language development.

• BHRSD Opt-Out Policy
• Opt-Out Form – English
• Opt-Out Form – Spanish

Opt-Out Forms are available in other languages, upon need or request.

WIDA ACCESS

• All Multilingual Learners participate in the annual state test of progress in their English language development: WIDA ACCESS test. Parents receive a report of their child’s ACCESS results, usually in June, when they are released by the state. Teachers use the report to monitor progress, modify instruction, and possibly, exit students from the program.

MCAS

• After their first year in a U.S. school ML students take the MCAS tests along with all other students in the spring. Tests of English language arts and mathematics are given in grades 3 through 8 and in grade 10. Tests of science are given in grades 5, 8 and once during high school – usually at the end of grade 9. ML students may receive some special accommodations on these tests because of their ML status following the testing accommodations guidelines provided by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

TELL and others

• ESL teachers are constantly assessing students’ developing English skills and providing evidence-based ratings of each student’s current language level in reading, writing, listening and speaking three times per year. Progress is shared with parents through report cards each term.

• When a ML student’s ACCESS score reaches an overall level of 4.2 as established by the state, they must be exited from the EL program. ML students who have exited the program do not participate in the annual ACCESS test of English language development. Still, ESL teachers will continue to monitor the student’s performance for a period of four years after the students exit the ESL program. Then contact the parents/guardians if progress is not satisfactory and there is a need for the student to receive EL services again.

Translation/Interpretation

• As part of the identification process, when the Home Language Survey is administered, families are asked if they require information from the school in another language. This can be all school materials or by request. Interpreters are available for parent-teacher conferences or other meetings. These services are available for all families.