English Learners

English Language Learners

 Fair isn’t everybody getting the same thing. Fair is everybody getting what they need in order to be successful.

Fayetteville City Schools is committed to ensuring that all students, including English learners, have the opportunity for success in rigorous coursework, access to early postsecondary opportunities, and access to highly effective teachers.

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) defines an EL as “[an individual] who comes from an environment where a language other than English has had a significant impact on the individual’s level of English language proficiency […and] whose difficulties in speaking, reading, writing, or understanding the English language may be sufficient to deny the individual:
• the ability to meet the state’s proficient level of achievement on state assessments,
• the ability to successfully achieve in classrooms where the language of instruction is English, or
• the opportunity to participate fully in society.”

Students classified as ELs are entitled to services specifically designed to improve their English proficiency, which is needed for ELs to access the Tennessee Academic Standards. In Tennessee, an alternative language program for ELs, known as English as a Second Language (ESL), is defined as,“English instruction especially designed for speakers of other languages.” Districts are federally mandated to identify all ELs, determine their English proficiency level, and provide effective ESL programs. Under ESSA, all ELs are expected to meet the same academic standards as their non-EL peers.