The English Language Learner (ELL) Program in Converse County School District #1 serves approximately 35 students, currently about 3% of the total student population. The majority of our ELL students speak Spanish as their first language.
Teacher Qualifications- All parents have the right to request information about the qualifications of their child's teacher(s). Please contact Dan Espeland at 358-3942
The goal of the ELL program is the acquisition of English through a Structured English Immersion model. This means we support listening, speaking, reading, and writing in English in the content areas for students who have been identified as English Language Learners (ELLs). Usually this support is given within the general classroom setting.
The ELL staff collaborates with the classroom teacher to meet the individual needs of each ELL student. Multiple methods of teaching are used to differentiate linguistic and academic instruction. ELL assistants may assist teachers within the classroom, they may pre-teach vocabulary in a small group setting, they might offer tutorial assistance, and they administer assessments with modifications if needed. They also serve as a liaison between the school and parents. ELL coordinator and staff also administer the ACCESS test each school year, which assesses each ELL student’s level of acquisition of the English language.
The ELL staff strives to provide English Language Learners with a successful and rewarding educational experience as they learn the fundamentals of and become fluent in the English language.