Assessment can allow ELL students to celebrate their accomplishments

CRCSD welcomes over 1,100 English Language Learners (ELL) to the district and integrates them into their grade-level classrooms, while they also are learning the English language. ELL students make up 7% of all CRCSD students, and the number continues to grow.

For many of these students, English is not their second language, but it may be their third or fourth language. Additionally, data tells us that becoming fluent in English typically takes anywhere from 3-10 years. Given these challenging factors, we have great reason to celebrate the accomplishment of nearly 10% of our ELL students progressing out of the ELL program during the 2020-2021 school year!

Each year, ELL students complete a language assessment to determine their English language proficiency level. The assessment is called ELPA21 (English Language Proficiency Assessment for the 21st Century.) Scoring proficient on this assessment progresses a student out of the ELL program.

“For an English Learner, exiting the ELL program is a huge accomplishment,” said Emily Gotto, ELL Program Lead. “It acknowledges all of the hard work the student has done to become proficient in English. It is definitely something to celebrate!”