Multilingual Learners (ML) Program

Wakefield’s Multilingual Learners (ML) Program is designed to support the development of English language proficiency for students who are considered Multilingual Learners (MLs). Wakefield Public Schools values the diverse linguistic and cultural richness that our ML students bring to the school community. Current languages represented in our schools are Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese, Chinese, Arabic, Azerbaijani, Ukrainian, Italian, Gujarati, Korean, Hindi, Albanian, Khmer, and Nepali.

Wakefield Public Schools strives to empower MLs to achieve social and academic language proficiency by ensuring equitable access to opportunities that promote language acquisition, biliteracy, and lifelong learning.

Our Program utilizes a Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) instructional model, which consists of:

Sheltered Content Instruction (SCI) - Instruction in core content, grade-level classes taught by content-area licensed and SEI-endorsed teachers.
English as a Second Language (ESL) - Additional linguistic support for MLs delivered through systematic, explicit, sustained focus on language and literacy. WPS utilizes both push-in and pull-out model ESL instruction, based on the needs of the students.

Multilingual Learner Identification Process

A Home Language Survey (HLS) is administered to all newly enrolled students.
If a language other than English is indicated on the HLS the district may do one of the following:
1. Contact the student’s former school for information on language proficiency assessment results and/or the student’s status as an ML or Former English Learner (FEL).
2. If the student has never been assessed or is new to Massachusetts schools, the district will assess the student’s English proficiency using the Pre-LAS for PreK students, the W-APT for students in Kindergarten, or the WIDA Screener for students in grades 1-12.
Based on the results of the screening, the district will determine if the student will be placed in the ML Program and how many minutes of instruction are recommended.
The parent or legal guardian will be notified, in a language they can understand, of the screening results and that the child will be placed in the SEI program. Parents/Legal guardians will also be notified of their right to “opt out” of the language program.

Helpful Links

For more information about Multilingual Learner Education guidance and laws in Massachusetts go to http://www.doe.mass.edu/ele/guidance/
For Family Resources go to http://www.doe.mass.edu/ele/families/ or https://www.colorincolorado.org/families
Massachusetts is part of the multi-state WIDA consortium. For resources about the English Language Development Standards, Can Do Descriptors, and annual state-mandated ACCESS test, go to http://www.doe.mass.edu/ele/instruction/wida.html

For more information about the RETELL initiative and SEI endorsement, go to http://www.doe.mass.edu/retell/

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