English Learner (EL)
The program for English learners (ELs) is designed to improve the education of students by simultaneously assisting them in learning English and in meeting state content standards. Curriculum follows the same grade level standards of learning as for all students and additionally incorporates Virginia's English language proficiency (ELP) standards.
Virginia joined the World Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) Consortium and adopted the following English language proficiency standards for implementation:
- Standard 1: English learners communicate for social and instructional purposes.
- Standard 2: English learners communicate for academic success in the content area of Language Arts.
- Standard 3: English learners communicate for academic success in the content area of Mathematics.
- Standard 4: English learners communicate for academic success in the content area of Science.
- Standard 5: English learners communicate for academic success in the content area of Social Studies.
EL students receive English language support in grades K-12. The EL teachers primarily push-in, or co-teach in the general education classroom to provide direct language services, or may group students for instruction. EL teachers support both the EL students and the content teacher through differentiating and scaffolding material to make course content comprehensible and to assist EL students in developing academic language proficiency.
An important feature of EL program at Francis C. Hammond Middle School and Alexandria City High School is the International Academy model of services, designed specifically to meet the needs of newcomer English learners. In addition to direct language services provided by EL teachers, students are taught by content teachers who are trained to integrate language learning into content instruction, students have access to additional academic enrichment courses to support core content areas, and they have a dedicated team of teachers, counselors, and a social worker.