English for Speakers of Other Languages Department

ESOL VISION STATEMENT

The English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program works to ensure equal educational access for English Learners and their families.  By recognizing that all stakeholders (students, parents, educators, community members, etc.) share the responsibility of ensuring that English learners develop linguistic, cognitive, and academic skills to become competitive citizens of our society, students whose first language is not English participate in academically challenging programs that respect and build upon the unique cultural and linguistic attributes they bring to the learning community.

To achieve this vision, we strive to provide effective programs that:

• comply with state and federal laws
• function in unison with all other educational endeavors
• include outreach to the community in order to benefit students, improve instruction, and strengthen collaboration
• educate English learners to the same standard of excellence as all other students
• embrace, respect, and build upon the unique cultural and linguistic characteristics students and families bring to the learning community
• ensure that all stakeholders are well-informed about effective pedagogy, and research on second language acquisition
• make genuine efforts to communicate with families in a language they understand
• are well-articulated and comprehensive to ensure horizontal and vertical alignment, equity, and student achievement