ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS

Title III provides funding to state and local education agencies who are obligated by NCLB [No Child Left Behind] to increase the English proficiency and core academic content knowledge of Limited English Proficient students. In Manchester Schools students are placed, depending on their degree of proficiency, in self-contained classrooms where all students have limited English proficiency or in a regular classroom. Students placed in regular classrooms leave the classroom and receive English instruction from an ELL specialist.

Under the NCLB parents must be notified of the following:

• The reasons for identifying their child as being limited English proficient and for placing their child in a language instruction educational program for LEP students;
• The child’s current level of English proficiency, including how the level was assessed and the status of the child’s academic achievement;
• The method of instruction that will be used in the program, including a description of all language programs;
• How the program will meet the educational strengths and needs of the child;
• How the program will help the child learn English and meet academic achievement standards;
• How the program will meet the objectives of an individualized education program for a child with a disability;
• The program exit requirements, including when the transition will take place and when graduation from secondary school is expected; and
• The parents' rights, including written guidance that (A) specifies the right to have their child immediately removed from a language instruction educational program upon request, (B) describes the options that parents have to decline to enroll their child in such a program or to choose another program or method of instruction, if available, and (C) assists parents in selecting among various programs and methods of instruction, if more than one program or method is offered.