English Learners & Immigrant Children/Youth
OSSD provides services to assist English learners with obtaining proficiency in comprehension, speaking, listening, reading, and writing in the English language.
According to the ESEA, an EL is an individual:
- Who is aged 3-21;
- Who is enrolled or preparing to enroll in an elementary or secondary school;
- Who was not born in the United States OR whose native language is a language other than English; and
- Where difficulties in speaking, reading, writing, or understanding the English language may be sufficient to deny the individual:
- The ability in meeting the State’s proficient level of achievement on State assessments described in section 1111(b)(3)
- The ability to successfully achieve in classrooms where the language of instruction is English; and
- The opportunity to participate fully in society.
According to the ESEA, an Immigrant:
- is ages 3 through 21;
- was not born in any state or U.S. territory; and
- has not been attending one or more schools in any one or more states for more than three full academic years.
Title III, as outlined by ESEA of 1965 and as amended by ESSA of 2015, provides supplemental services that improve the English language proficiency and academic achievement of English Learners (ELs).