Multilingual Learners Education
Are you interested in learning what a Multilingual Learner is and why DS is making a shift to this terminology? The article, “Labels or Limitations? Recommendations for Asset-Based Language for Multilingual Learners” provides an excellent overview of this change.
The Dover-Sherborn Public Schools focuses on advancing the academic language development and academic achievement of Multilingual Learner Education (MLE).
Who qualifies for Multilingual Learner Education (MLE)?
Upon entering any of the Dover-Sherborn Public Schools, parents/guardians are asked to complete a Home Language Survey on which they disclose information regarding the language spoken in one's home. If this survey indicates a home language other than English, then an English Language Proficiency assessment will be administered. The assessment defines a child's proficiency with social and academic language.
Home Language Survey in English
Home Language Survey in Chinese
Home Language Survey in Portuguese
Home Language Survey in Haitian
Home Language Survey in Spanish
Home Language Survey in Urdu
Home Language Survey in Farsi
Home Language Survey in French
Home Language Survey in Russian
Home Language Survey in Thai
Where are MLE services provided in the Dover-Sherborn Public Schools?
Chickering Elementary School (Grades K-5)
Pine Hill Elementary School (Grades K-5)
Dover Sherborn Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Dover Sherborn High School (Grades 9-12)
What is MLE?
Students with demonstrated MLE needs will work towards proficiency in social and academic language, in whole class and small group settings with an instructor. These learning experiences are designed to assist students in accessing the general education curriculum and to receive individualized support based on their unique needs.
MLE services are provided by a Massachusetts licensed teacher with specialization in English as a Second Language. MLE teachers use research-based techniques to help students acquire English so that they may fully participate in their schools and community.
Students' eligibility for sheltered English instruction and progress towards English acquisition (if applicable) is carefully monitored by credentialed instructors who provide regular communication with parent(s)/guardian(s) through a series of communications.
All of the techniques and strategies used by Dover-Sherborn teachers are research based. To learn more about the language acquisition process and research-based techniques and strategies, please visit:
Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL)
Center for Research on Education, Diversity, and Excellence (CREDE)
Massachusetts Association of Teachers of Speakers of Other Languages (MATSOL)
National Association of Bilingual Education (NABE)
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Inc. (TESOL)
The Education Alliance at Brown University
World Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA)
As part of the school system's commitment to ongoing professional development in support of teachers' ability to provide the best and most effective instruction to ML-identified students, teachers at Dover Sherborn have numerous opportunities to engage in ML/SEI training.
Testing and Accountability
Federal and state laws require that ML students be assessed annually to measure their proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking, English, as well as the progress they are making in learning English. In keeping with these laws, ML students must participate in:
World Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) ACCESS for MLs.
Spring = All MLs students enrolled in grades K–12 and all FLEP students enrolled in grades K–12 who were reported as LEP in the prior October SIMS submission.
ACCESS assesses ML students' proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing in grades K-12.
All ML students enrolled in grades K–12 and all formerly ML (FLEP) students enrolled in grades K–12 who were reported as LEP in the prior October SIMS submission will be assessed.
Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS)
All ML students in grades 3-12 are also required to participate in the MCAS annually.
Access student participation requirements for MCAS and ACCESS including participation requirements for LEP students with disabilities @ http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/participation/ell.pdf
View WIDA Standards
https://www.wida.us/standards/CAN_DOs/
Parent(s)/guardian(s) will be notified by letter regarding assessment dates.