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West Windsor-Plainsboro outlines multilingual-learner pathways and AVID support for rising high-schoolers
Summary
District staff described ML course sequences (levels 1——4) that fulfill English and world-language requirements, co-taught ML sections for content access, and an AVID four-year program aimed at college-preparatory skills for first-generation or underrepresented students.
Mr. Cooper, who works with the district's multilingual-learner (ML) program, described course options for students whose primary language is not English. He explained ML level 1 through 4 courses (two-course sequences worth 10 credits) that fulfill both English-language and world-language graduation requirements for ML students. "Those are proficiency levels," he said, describing placement from one-word responses (level 1) to extended discourse and multi-paragraph work (level 4).
Cooper said the district runs co-taught sections of world history and science with an ML teacher partnering with the content teacher to support language acquisition and access to grade-level content. For students new to the country, the district offers science 1 ML; more proficient ML students take biology for multilingual learners taught collaboratively by science and ML teachers.
Cooper also described AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), a four-year program designed to develop college-prep skills, organization and writing strategies and to provide college-campus visits. He said AVID targets students who express a desire to go to college and may be first-generation or underrepresented; the program is transcripted and includes ongoing outreach to families and students.
