English Learners

The English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC) has the responsibility to advise schools on how to improve programs and services for English Learners as well as ensuring that the school complies with federal and state requirements. A school’s ELAC consists of parents of English learner students. A school that has more than 20 English Learner students must convene an ELAC. Currently, the following district schools have an active ELAC: Capri, La Costa Heights, Mission Estancia, Ocean Knoll, Park Dale Lane and Paul Ecke Central.

The District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC) has the responsibility to advise the school district on how to improve programs and services for English Language Learners as well as ensuring that the district complies with federal and state requirements. DELAC representatives are selected by the school’s ELAC to represent them and their suggestions on improving programs and services at the district level.

The Dual Language Immersion Program is available at two district schools, Capri and Paul Ecke Central. The Dual Language Immersion Program is a challenging and rigorous academic program in which Spanish is used as the primary language of instruction. The classroom population is half English-speaking children and half Spanish speaking children. The program implements a 90/10-immersion model in which K-1 students receive 90% of their instruction in Spanish and 10% in English. The percentage of English instruction increases until core subjects are taught in Spanish for 50% of the day and English for 50% of the day in 5th and 6th grades. One of the major goals of the DLI program is to develop language proficiency in English and in Spanish for native speakers and Spanish speakers. The three program goals of the DLI program are: 

1. Bilingualism
2. Biliteracy
3. Multicultural Appreciation 

The English Learner Master Plan revised in 2018 provides information about programs and services for students whose primary language is not English.

Each school site provided both Designated and Integrated English Language Development (ELD) to all students learning English as a second language. 

State and Federal laws require a state test that school districts must administer to students whose home language is not English. In California, the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) test is administered. The purpose of the ELPAC test is to identify new students who are English learners in kindergarten through grade twelve, to determine their level of English proficiency and to annually assess their progress in learning in English. The ELPAC assesses students in listening, speaking, reading and writing in all grade levels. Test results will help determine when students may be reclassified as fluent English proficient. Before students are reclassified, English Language Development (ELD) support is provided to English learners in their classrooms to help them achieve a higher level of English proficiency from year to year. To learn more about the ELPAC, visit: https://www.elpac.org/resources/parent-resources/