Philosophy
The Bilingual Education and English as a Second Language programs seek to enable English Language Learners (ELL) to become competent in understanding, listening, speaking, reading, and writing of the English language, through the development of literacy and academic skills. These programs emphasize the mastery of English language skills as well as mathematics, science, and social studies as integral components in order for ELL students to participate equitably in school. BILINGUAL and ESL programs offer intensive instruction in English by teachers trained in recognizing and working with language differences. These programs use the academic and cultural experiences of the student as a platform to provide appropriate instruction in English.

Guiding Principles

1. The native language serves as the foundation for second language acquisition.
2. Cognitive skills will transfer from one language to another and student’s literate in their first language will apply these skills and other academic proficiencies in the second language.
3. Second Language learners draw upon the resources of their language and culture as they acquire a new language and culture.
4. Second Language Learners are at different stages of language acquisition and may exhibit different proficiency levels within the four language components of listening, speaking, reading and writing.
5. Second Language Learners undergo silent periods of varying durations when they first begin to learn a new language.
6. Limited knowledge of the second language structure and vocabulary is neither related to the students’ intellectual capabilities nor their ability to use higher-order thinking skills.
7. Literacy development across the content areas is essential in building academic skills in a second language and can accelerate the learning of both English language skills and higher-order thinking skills.

National Clearing House For English Language Acquisition
http://www.ncela.gwu.edu

English Language Proficiency Standards
http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter074/ch074a.html#74.4