Preparing Successful, Bicultural English Language Learners
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Hillsborough County Public Schools serve approximately 26,500 identified ELL students who represent 238 countries and 197 languages /dialects. Each of these students has a story to tell and a personal history as diverse as the countries and cultures they represent.
Mission
The mission of the ELL Department is to provide high-quality instruction to our linguistically diverse students, and high-quality support to their teachers and families, so that they may achieve their academic, economic, and personal goals.Vision
The ELL Department envisions a community of English language learners that have attained English proficiency and high levels of academic achievement preparing them for responsible engagement in our linguistically and culturally diverse world.
Program Goals
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To develop the students’ English language proficiency in the areas of listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
To ensure that English language learners continue to develop and acquire skills and concepts in content area subjects while they are developing their English language skills.
To encourage communication between school and home that will promote the educational success of English Language Learners.
Program Services
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Classroom Teachers
All classroom teachers have received training in educating ELLs. Classroom teachers are the primary instructors for ELLs.ESOL Teachers and ESOL Resource Teachers
ESOL teachers utilize a variety of instructional strategies, materials, and accommodations to teach students to speak, read, and write in English to ensure academic instruction is understandable to ELLs. Schools with large populations of ELLs employ a full-time ESOL Resource Teacher who coordinates all site-based ESOL services.Native Language Support
Bilingual paraprofessionals use native language supports to work with students and teachers to review, clarify, and reinforce academic skills.
They also serve as liaisons for home/school communications.ESOL Self-Contained Classes (Secondary)
Sixth through twelfth-grade ELLs may be enrolled in courses focused on English language acquisition and academic English. These courses provide intensive English support provided by certified teachers and Bilingual paraprofessionals.Interpreters and Translators
Interpreters are utilized at district and school levels to support parent and community communications. They also translate a wide variety of district and school-level documents related to everything from health and safety to discipline and academics.Bilingual Psychological and Social Services
Native language psychological, social, and guidance services are available to ELL students and their families.Teacher Training
HCPS is committed to preparing all teachers of English Language Learners (ELL’s) by providing a variety of high-quality professional development opportunities. This includes offering courses specifically designed to meet the needs of educators based on what they teach and their certification requirements, as defined by the Florida Department of Education. Teachers should contact Educator Certification at 813-840-7180 and consult their in-service records to confirm enrollment in the correct courses. The required ESOL Teacher Training courses are currently offered three times a year: Fall, Spring, and Summer.Parent and Community Involvement
The parents of ELLs are encouraged to participate in the Parent Advisory Council (PAC) at their child’s school and the District Advisory Council (DAC) meetings, which occur each fall and spring. These meetings are designed to share information about the ELL program and the rights of ELL students, as well as to gather input from parents on how to best support their children. We also encourage all parents of ELL students to participate in school-based parent leadership opportunities including School Advisory Committee, PTA/PTSA, etc.