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USD 383 highlights language-access work as English-learner population grows
Summary
District ESOL staff told the board the district serves over 1,000 multilingual learners, provided interpreters and translated more than 300 pages of materials, and is targeting reading and writing standards to accelerate English-language growth.
District ESOL staff presented their annual report to the Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 board on Dec. 3, summarizing program priorities, assessment findings and family language-access work.
Emily Cherms reviewed English-learner growth and data from state assessments and KELPA (Kansas English Language Proficiency Assessments). She said the district narrowed instructional focus to two reading standards and two writing standards in order to increase targeted instruction and accelerate students’ academic-language development.
Christina Martinez, identified in the presentation as the district’s language access support specialist and ESOL family liaison, said the district provided interpretation, translation and in-person supports to families this year. "This past school year educators and administrators across the district made ... direct bilingual contacts so families had full access to conversations and information that impacts their children's learning," she said, noting that more than 300 pages of district documents were translated and that about 391 families requested communication in a language other than English.
Martinez described the five most-requested modes of interpretation as Spanish, Dari, Pashto, French and American Sign Language. Board members asked clarifying questions about ASL interpretation and how KELPA data are used to guide instruction.
ESOL staff emphasized that English-language development is instructional core work rather than an intervention tier and outlined coordinated professional development and co-teaching strategies for classroom teachers. The board thanked the presenters and requested continued monitoring and communication of ESOL outcomes to building teams and the public.
