Lancaster School District

The mission of the Multilingual Learner Program in the Lancaster School District is to support students’ full and meaningful access and participation in a quality education, attaining high levels of English proficiency and mastery of grade level standards, while developing proficiency in one or more primary languages.

overview

Federal case law requires that the main goals of the Multilingual Learner Program be to develop English learner fluency in English as effectively and rapidly as possible and to develop mastery of the core curriculum comparable to native English speakers.

Lancaster School District is committed to developing academic English language proficiency, a positive self-image, and reclassification to Fluent English Proficient as well as developing an appreciation of the cultural and linguistic diversity English learners bring to the community.

In order to achieve these district & federal goals, Lancaster School District will:

Provide all students with high quality curricular activities and lessons that address the California State Standards
Offer programs based on student need and research based educational pedagogy
Provide ongoing, high quality staff development
Embrace parent involvement in the educational process
Provide a process for monitoring the effectiveness of the program

While adhering to the Four Principles outlined in the California English Learners Roadmap:

Assets-Oriented and Needs-Responsive Schools
Intellectual Quality of Instruction and Meaningful Access
System Conditions that Support Effectiveness
Alignment and Articulation Within and Across Systems

Diversity & Characteristics of Multilingual Learners

Multilingual learners are students who are developing proficiency in two or more languages. This includes students learning English as an additional language in school; officially classified as English Learners (EL); and students that have achieved proficiency in English or Reclassified Fluent English Proficient (RFEP).

The California Department of Education (CDE) defines an English Learner as a student in grades TK-12, who has a primary language other than English, and is in need of an English language assistance program.

Multilingual learners come to school with a wide range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds, experiences with formal schooling, proficiency with native language and English literacy, immigrant, migrant and socioeconomic status, as well as interactions in the home, school, and community.

The Lancaster School District strives to serve its multilingual learners within the Four Principles of the California English Learner Roadmap, aligning practices and resources to meet their specific academic, language and socioemotional needs.

A number of terms are commonly used in research, legislation, and in this document to discuss students who speak a language other than English at home. Understanding the differences between these key terms is critical for determining which population of students is being discussed.