English Language Learners (ELL)

Welcome to the Talawanda School District English Learner (EL) Program, where we are dedicated to our mission of "Educating and Preparing Students for Life!" Our district currently serves approximately 100 English Learners who represent more than 25 different languages, with Spanish, French, and Nepali being the most common. We believe in providing equal access to high-quality learning experiences and academic content for every child, regardless of their national origin or citizenship status.

How Students are Identified

The process begins when families complete a Home Language Usage Survey (LUS) during registration. If the survey indicates a language other than English is spoken at home, we are required by law to assess the student’s English proficiency. This is done using the Ohio English Language Proficiency Screener (OELPS), which assesses listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. This screening must occur within 30 days of the start of the school year or within two weeks for students who enroll later.

Support and Instructional Services

Our program is designed to help students attain English proficiency while ensuring they succeed in their regular academic classes. English Language Learning ELL instruction is provided in addition to, not in place of, core instruction. Depending on your child's needs, services may include:

Direct ELL Instruction with an ELL Tutor: Pull-out or push-in services focused on vocabulary, grammar, and language skills.
Sheltered Instruction (SIOP): Classroom strategies used by teachers to make academic content more understandable.

Communication with Families

We believe communication is the key to a successful relationship between home and school.

Parent Notification Letters (PNL): Families will receive a letter outlining their child's assessment results and the recommended services within 30 days of the school year's start (or two weeks after enrollment).
Interpreters and Translations: To ensure you can participate fully in your child's education, we provide interpreters for enrollment and parent-teacher conferences at the district’s expense.
Your Rights: Parents have the right to accept or decline ELL services, though students must still participate in annual state English assessments until they meet exit criteria.

Exiting the Program and Monitoring

Students exit the EL program when they achieve a "Proficient" level on the annual Ohio English Language Proficiency Assessment (OELPA). Once a student reaches proficiency, we continue to monitor their academic progress for four years to ensure they are successful without additional language support.

Please review Talawanda's comprehensive resource of our services for our English Learners here:

Talawanda Title III Guidebook (English Learner Guidebook)

Contact Information

For more information, please visit our website or contact our program coordinator:

Literacy & Language Coordinator: Katie Slager

Email: slagerk@talawanda.org

Phone: 513-273-3145