Cupertino Union School District

ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

(12/2006)

INTRODUCTION TO THE INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM

The Cupertino Union School District provides an English Language Development (ELD) Program at several school sites. This is a state-funded program that offers special instruction in learning English orally, as well as to develop reading and writing skills. Teachers use various second language acquisition strategies to develop English vocabulary and comprehension skills. Our ELD students come from all parts of the world and enrich the diversity of our school community.

GOALS

The goals of the Cupertino Union School District ELD Program are:

• to provide English Learners with language skills that will enable them to participate fully in the mainstream classroom

• to provide all students with an understanding of and respect for each other’s cultural traditions and values

• to develop a positive self-concept, an ability to relate well to others, and acceptable standards of conduct and citizenship

IDENTIFICATION PROCESS

The identification process begins at registration when a child first enters CUSD. If the Home Language Survey shows any of the following information, then the child must be tested:

• if the parent indicates on the survey that the child’s first language is not English

• if the parent indicates that the child speaks at home in a language other than English

• if the parent indicates that he/she speaks to the child in a language other than English

ELD PROGRAM

Currently six of Cupertino Union School District’s twenty-five schools have ELD center programs. Historically, CUSD English Learners (ELs) perform extremely well once the reclassification process is completed. ELD instruction prepares students with an academic foundation that contributes to lasting student achievement. ELD teachers use various second language acquisition strategies to develop English vocabulary and comprehension skills. All instruction in the ELD classroom is conducted in English. Students in the ELD Program have access to the same grade level core curriculum and textbooks that mainstream students receive. ELD students participate in all of the same school activities as their grade level peers in the regular program. In addition, ELD students have the same opportunities to participate in special education or Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) programs provided by the district.

RECLASSIFICATION PROCESS

When EL’s have met all of the requirements of the ELD Program, they can attend the mainstream education program at their home school. This process is called reclassification. Students are reclassified based upon multiple measures and include state standardized tests, such as the CELDT and STAR, CUSD Assessment Tools, teacher judgment, parent input, and other measures of student performance as needed.

WITHDRAWAL PROCESS

ELD parents have the choice to withdraw their children from ELD Program services and attend the mainstream program at their home school. Parents may withdraw their child at any time from the ELD Program. To withdraw a child, a parent must conference with the school principal. Parents should carefully consider the time needed to learn a second language for academic purposes before withdrawing their children. The students will still be considered Limited English Proficient (LEP) until they have taken the annual assessment and met all of the above reclassification requirements.

COMMON TERMINOLOGY

The following terms are regularly used in the English Language Development Program:

ELD: English Language Development

EL: English Learners

LEP: Limited English Proficient

FEP: Fluent English Proficient

W: Withdrawn by the parents from the ELD Program but still classified as EL

CELDT: California English Language Development Test

Initial CELDT: The testing process when the child first enters the program

Annual CELDT: The testing that happens in the fall once the child is enrolled in the ELD Program for one year and has not passed the initial CELDT.

Reclassified: The student has passed the required tests and changes from the status as English Learner to the Fluent English Proficient designation.

Structured English Immersion: Learning English in a class with specially trained teachers

SDAIE: Specially Designed Academic Instruction in English

CLAD (Cross-Cultural Language and Academic Development): Certification for a teaching credential that authorizes teachers to work with English Learners

PROGRAM FEATURES

• The English Language Development Intake Center (currently located at John Muir Elementary School) provides assessment for English Learners (EL).

• All EL students, grades 1-8, attend one of the English Language Development Center schools. These are part of the regular education neighborhood school.

• All EL kindergarten students receive ELD instruction at their neighborhood schools.

• Instruction is provided by teachers who possess a special certification to teach ELD students.

• Instruction in the core curriculum is provided using Specially Designed Academic Instruction in English (SDAIE).

PARENT INVOLVEMENT

The district’s goal is to have all parents involved, either directly or indirectly, in their children’s educational programs. Below is a list of parent groups.

English Language Advisory Committee (ELAC): A group of ELD parents, teachers, and the school principal who meet to discuss how to support English Learners and the English Language Development program at their school. This committee is open to all ELD parents.

District English Language Advisory Committee (DELAC): This committee consists of one ELD parent from each of the ELD sites and schools with 21 or more ELD students, ELD administrators, and the district ELD representative. DELAC meets four times a year to share information and make decisions regarding district policies concerning the ELD program.

Parent Teacher Groups: This is a voluntary group of parents, teachers, and the school principal who meet to discuss how to support the school. The group plans fundraisers, assemblies, and many other activities to enrich the school program. This organization is open to all parents of the school.

School Site Council (SSC): This is a group of parents, teachers, and administrators who are the governing representatives of the school site. Middle schools also include students. The teachers are elected annually or bi-annually by their selective peers. All parents are invited to join and attend meetings.

QUESTIONS

Contact your school principal or Karen Barrett, Director of Instruction (408) 252-3000, ext. 149

ORGANIZATIONS and RESOURCES

California Department of Education — http://www.cde.ca.gov/

City of Cupertino — http://www.cupertino.org/

CEEF — http://www.cupertino.k12.ca.us/ceef.www/home.htm

PROGRAM LOCATIONS

After your child’s English language proficiency has been assessed, he/she may be enrolled in one of the following centers, which are fully integrated for recess, lunch, and school assemblies:

Elementary Sites:

Collins Elementary School Grades 2-3, and 4-5

10401 Vista Drive

Cupertino, VA 95014

(408) 252-6002

De Vargas Elementary School Grades 1-5

5050 Moorpark Avenue

San Jose, CA 95129

(408) 255-2848

Eaton Elementary School Grade 1

20220 Suisun Drive

Cupertino, CA 95014

(408) 255-2848

John Muir Elementary School Grades 1-5

6560 Hanover Drive

San Jose, CA 95129

(408) 252-5265

Nimitz Elementary School Grades 1-5

545 E. Cheyenne Drive

Sunnyvale, CA 94087

(408) 736-2180

Middle School Site:

Hyde Middle School Grades 6-8

19325 Bollinger Road

Cupertino, CA 95014

(408) 252-6290

District Map: http://cupertino.ca.campusgrid.net/home/About+our+District/District+Map