The ESL component focuses on teaching ESL through the content areas of science and social studies and has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Bilingual Education as a program of Academic Excellence. ESL classes are heterogeneously mixed by level of ESL at each grade level. ESL students receive instruction for approximately 2 hours per day in a pull-out program. ESL instructors are responsible for instruction and evaluation of science, social studies and language arts curriculum. Transition ESL groups for students who have high oral proficiency, yet need more direct instruction in reading and writing before being mainstreamed full-time meet approximately one hour daily.
Classes consist of students speaking many languages.
A typical class of 16 ESL students may have as many as 12 or more language groups repesented. ESL class size often varies from 10 to 18 according to the current population per grade level. We consider 12 an ideal class size. Transition ESL groups are smaller, often 6-8 students only. The ESL instruction follows the curriculum of the Urbana School District.