ESL provides direct services to a total of 350 students, and provides support to an additional 200 students on a consultations basis. At the elementary level, ESL functions as a pullout program. The Middle School offers bilingual content area classes in Spanish and English for beginning students. Once students are fluent enough to join mainstream classes, they continue attending an ESL class and receive tutoring in content areas. The high school offers ESL classes and tutoring in the content areas.
Research shows that most children learn social English in one to three years.
How long learning takes depends on many factors, including the child's level of literacy in their first language and the educational background of the child s parents. The migrant social worker and ESL parent liaison facilitate communication between schools and families. This bridge work includes referrals for home visits from principals,nurses, and guidance counselors, translation for parent-teacher conferences and parent support and education. Many newcomers have to learn a new educational system, in addition to learning a new language and getting to know the community. Resources ESL staff provide classroom teachers with alternate instructional materials and maintain regular contact to coordinate ESL and classroom instruction.