Our English Learners are students whose first or "home" language is something other than English. Over the past few years our EL population has continued to grow within the Colbert County School System and currently includes 32 ELL students system-wide.

 In addition to their regular classroom instruction, these students have the benefit of one-on-one tutoring from our state-certified, highly-qualified EL teacher in language instruction across the content areas. All students identified as EL or LEP (Limited English Proficient) have an LEP plan on file at their school and the central office. 

Parents are invited and encouraged to attend and be active participants in the annual LEP meeting concerning their student in order to assist in the development of the student's educational goals and plan. Teachers, tutors, school administrators, and other education professionals work together to provide services to these students to ensure their academic success. Once they enter school on a level playing field, these second language learners can go on to achieve high honors within our school system and beyond.

Believing that the success of English learners is a responsibility shared by all educators, we offer continuous staff development to classroom teachers in strategies for meeting the needs of English learners in the mainstream classroom.  In addition, the EL teacher collaborates with regular classroom teachers to provide appropriate instruction and assessments for English language learners.

If you have questions regarding services to English language learners, I encourage you to contact me.  Remember, educating everybody takes everybody!

English As A Second Language Procedure and Resource Guide: A Manual for Identifying, Assessing, Placing, and Meeting the Educational Needs of Limited English Proficient Students, is available at each school and the central office.