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Lake Placid Central School District board hears update on English-language learner program
Summary
Sarah Allen told the board the district now serves 27 English-language learners, described staffing and services, explained exit and assessment rules, and said the district does not receive extra state funding until a 30-student threshold is reached.
Sarah Allen presented the Lake Placid Central School District's English-language learner (ELL) program and recent trends, telling the Board of Education that 27 students in the district are currently identified as ELLs.
"So if a student comes into our district and is identified as an English language learner, then they would fall into this category of students," Allen said, describing identification and placement procedures and the district's classroom supports. She explained a former ELL is a student who has "tested out" and remains eligible for services for two years after exit.
Allen described staffing and services: an itinerant ELL teacher who works across both buildings (named in the presentation as Mary Smith), additional support by Kara Atkinson and Jen Florence at the middle-high school, teaching assistants in both buildings, reading specialists, speech pathologists, school nurses, and the districtwide social worker who helps families access services. She said staff use technology (microphones, iPad translation tools) and are developing a more consistent operating procedure for family-centered support.
On assessment and exit, Allen said the district performs a New York State assessment within 10 days of a student's arrival to establish language level and placement; students take the spring state language assessment and may exit ELL status after demonstrating commanding/proficient scores. "We do not offer a bilingual education program. What we offer is an English as a new language program," Allen said, describing the district's current model.
Board members asked about scale and funding. The chair noted state aid thresholds and said the district does not receive additional state funding until it reaches a population threshold. "Sarah, we do not get any additional funding from New York State for any of the additional students coming in," the chair said; Allen confirmed the district had not reached the 30-student threshold for additional funding and that the district has seen 10 students move into the district this year who require ELL services.
Allen emphasized next steps: more professional development for staff working with ELLs and more cultural-diversity events to support inclusion. The presentation closed with board members thanking Allen for the update; the meeting continued with budget and other reports.
The board listed its next meeting for April 8.
