Lake Central presents multilingual proficiency certificates; EL program reports WIDA gains

Mrs. Liz DeVries, introduced as the ELL coordinator, explained the district’s participation in Indiana’s certificate of multilingual proficiency and recognized students who earned the award.

"The state of Indiana provides a certificate of multilingual proficiency to students who demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English," DeVries said. She described how the certificate enables students to earn letter grades and up to six world language credits for existing proficiency and noted that Lake Central was one of six Northwest Indiana districts participating this year. DeVries said Lake Central nominated 10 students for scholarship support from Indiana University's Center for the Study of Global Change and was awarded financial assistance for all 10 students; two students earned perfect scores.

Director of Student Services (identified in the meeting as Mrs. Carmela) briefed the board on WIDA assessment results for English learners. She said "66 percent of our students who were with us last year, and tested again this year showed improvement in their scores," and that "50 students test[ed] fluent, which means they'll be dismissed from the program," up from 33 the prior year. She added that an additional 24 students scored in a range that allows a committee to review classroom data for possible dismissal.

Why it matters: the multilingual proficiency certificate can award world-language credits that make English learners eligible for the academic honors diploma and can remove financial barriers because grant funding covered test fees for nominated students.

Board action: recognition and informational report; no formal policy vote recorded on certification or EL program changes during the meeting.