English Language Learners

Contacts

If you have any questions regarding ELL, please contact Gretchen Tucci at 412-221-4542 x 415.

South Fayette School District's ELL Teacher's are:

Marcia Fink 412-221-4542 x 602

Cindy Nix 412-221-4542 x 719
 
Sarah Cabonor 412-221-4542 x 710

Program Goals and Objectives
The South Fayette Township School District K-12 English Language Learners (ELL) program at South Fayette Township School District provides students with the language skills they need to participate successfully in content area classes. ELL instruction is designed to address the Pennsylvania Academic Common Core in reading, writing, speaking, and listening in order to comprehend all subject matter.  The emphasis placed on various benchmarks is adjusted to the needs of the indiviudal ELL.

An underlying objective of the ELL program is to provide a source of support as the ELL seeks to understand and adapt to his or her new cultural and academic setting. ELL teachers work to develop an appreciation of their ELL's strengths within the school setting and to ensure full access to the range of educational opportunities available in the school.  The South Fayette Township School District's mission is to have ELLs participate in all areas of school culture and become contributing members of the school community.

Identification and Placement
As part of enrollment procedures, all parents/guardians are required to complete a Home Language Survey.  If another language is indicated on the Home Language Survey then a family interview is conducted to determine if the student is potentially an ELL.  An interpreter is used if necessary.  Answers to the questions at the interview will determine if the student should be screened or undergo a student record review to determine if the student will need ELL services.  If the student needs to be screened, the purpose of this screening is to assess the student's ELL proficiency and recommend appropriate ELL instruction.  The ELL teacher or coordinator will conduct the interview in person or over the phone.  The ELL teacher will continue with the screening to determine whether ELL services are warranted.

Parent Orientation / Advisory
At least two parent orientation/advisory meetings will be held annually in the District to inform parents, and about district activities and upcoming community events.  Also, updates pertaining to the ELL Program will be shared.

English Language Instructional Program
ELL instruction is provided by highly qualified teachers who hold a valid Instructional I or Instructional II certificate and is a Program Specialist in ELL from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Students are grouped by appropriate age and English proficiency levels.  The total number of hours of ELL instruction varies according to the ELLs' needs.  Research based techniques and models for adapting instruction are utilized. 

 

Levels are defined by the Pennsylvania English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS). 

 

Elementary School - Elementary ELL students receive ELL services through a pull-out or push-in program in Reading and Language Arts.  Instruction in Math, Science, Health, and Social Studies is received in the content area classrooms.  The ELL teacher consults and collaborates with the content area teachers.  Instruction is modified and adapted to ELL proficiency level of the ELL student. 

Intermediate School - Intermediate level ELL students receive ELL services through a pull-out or push-in program for Reading and Language Arts.  This mainly depends on their level of English language proficiency.  Instruction in Math, Science, Health, and Social Studies is received in the content area classrooms.  The ELL teacher is available for consultation and collaboration with the content area teachers.  Instruction is modified and adapted to the ELL proficiency level of the ELL student.  

Middle School - ELL services are provided through a pull-out and push-in program during English/Lanuguae Arts classes.  The ELLs particiate in Math, Science,and Social Studies with their grade level peers.  All instruction can be modified and adapted to the ELL proficiency level of the ELL by the content area teacher in collaboration with the ELL teacher.  Foreign Language programs are available at the beginning of middle school, as well as a variety of exploratory courses in fine arts, technology, STEAM, business technology, family and consumer sciences, and physical education.

High School - At the high school level, ELL students are assigned specific classes with the ELL teacher based upon their language proficiency level.  The high school ELL teacher provides instruction for one period a day.  Part of class time is used on English acquisition with the district adopted curriculm.  The rest of the class time is used to support students in their content area classes.  ELLs participate in all other subjects with their peers.  Instruction can be modified and adapted to the ELL proficiency level of the ELL student in collaboration with the ELL teacher and content are teachers.  At the high school level, ELLs have the option of taking vocational technical classes at Parkway West Career and Technology Center for a portion of the day.  ELLs also have access to all elective courses offered at the high school level.  All students are encouraged to participate in clubs, sports, and any available extracurricular activities that take place after school hours.  

Annual Assessment of ELLs

The PSSAs in the English/Lanuage Arts areas as well as in Mathematics are administrered as required by federal law to students in grades 3-8.  The PSSA for Science is administered in the grades 4 and 8 only.  The Keystone Exams are administered at the secondary level  as required by federal law.  The PSSA and Keystone Exams provide allowable accomodations for ELL's as necessary.

 

In the South Fayette Township School District, ELLs may also be eligilbe to special education services.  The IEP teams consider the need for ELL instruction as the student's needs relate to the provision of a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).  In determining the ELL's needs, the IEP team must consider both special education services and ELL instruction at the same time, as deemed apporpriate based on the ELL's needs.