English Language Development

Mission Statement

The English Language Development (ELD) program is committed to providing multilingual learners access to equitable education. As a staff, we have high expectations for our students and ourselves. In partnership with our growing population of multilingual learners and their families, we strive to provide effective and inspiring standards-based English language instruction in the areas of speaking, listening, reading, and writing. We believe in the empowerment of all students and staff through an education that includes an understanding of, and value for, diversity.

Vision Statement

The English Language Development program holds the following core beliefs:

• Our main purpose is to improve the academic achievement of multilingual learners.
• Effective language instruction accelerates the development of the English language.
• Student assessment data must be used to provide effective instruction.
• Culturally and linguistically diverse students bring many assets to the learning process that must be affirmed and developed during instruction.
• Academic growth is facilitated in conjunction with family and community support.
• Our staff members must have a devotion to diverse students and a dedication to a culture of excellence.

Curriculum and Assessment

The Thompson School District utilizes a variety of print and digital curricula to develop proficiency in English. These curricula are literature-based, designed for multilingual learners, and aligned with grade-level WIDA English Language Proficiency standards and grade-level Common Core State Standards. As a member of the WIDA Consortium, Colorado provides annual English language proficiency assessment utilizing WIDA ACCESS 2.0. In addition, the Thompson School District monitors students' progress in English language proficiency twice annually utilizing Pearson TELL.

Board Policy IHBEA

The Thompson School District strives to offer equitable educational access and opportunities to students developing proficiency in the English language by providing appropriate research-based Language Instruction Educational Programs (LIEPs) for all identified English Learners (ELs) in grades pre-kindergarten through 12 in accordance with the requirements of state and federal statutes and the Colorado Department of Education regulations and guidance.

Board Policy IHBEA-R

The district shall identify students who may benefit from a Language Instruction Educational Program (LIEP) through: home language surveys that identify a potential Primary Home Language Other Than English (PHLOTE), English language proficiency assessments approved by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), and any additional relevant information within a body of evidence.

Office of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education-Colorado Department of Education

Office of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education - Information about Colorado K-12 public schools, school districts, and the Colorado State Board of Education.

WIDA Information

WIDA develops and provides proven tools and support to help multilingual learners, and their educators, succeed.

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed by President Obama on December 10, 2015. This bipartisan measure reauthorizes the 50-year-old Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the nation's national education law and longstanding commitment to equal opportunity for all students.

How does a student qualify for the English Language Development program?

All students complete a Home Language Survey as part of the online registration process for the district.  When a family indicates the influence of a language other than English, an ELD professional explores whether the student is eligible for ELD programming.  Program eligibility is determined by a body of evidence, which may include an English language proficiency test. 

How long will it take a student to reach English language proficiency?

Every student is different, and language develops at varying rates.  The Colorado Department of Education provides the guidance that "it takes English Learners four to ten years to develop academic English fully-to be able to listen, speak, read, and write in a way that is indistinguishable from a native English speaker." 

How do you measure English langauge development?

All students who are identified as English Learners in the state of Colorado take the WIDA ACCESS 2.0 assessment each January as a standardized measure of English language proficiency.  The Thompson School District also utilizes WIDA MODEL as a fall and spring benchmark assessment for students in the ELD program. 

What if guardians do not want a student to receive ELD programming? 

While the ELD program recommends participation in the program based on a student's individual English language learning needs, the family ultimately decides whether or not to accept that recommendation.  Students who waive the ELD program will still receive an annual language learning plan and the annual WIDA ACCESS 2.0 assessment.