English as a Second Language (ESL)

State and federal laws require school districts to screen students who list a language other than English. All Lakota students answer questions about languages spoken at home when they enroll. These questions are a part of the Home Language Survey (HLS). If a student has a language other than English on the HLS, we are required, by law, to assess the student’s language proficiency.

The assessment determines if the student is fully proficient , progressing or emerging in language acquisition. If the student is not fully English proficient, they are considered to be an English Learner by the state and are eligible for English as a Second Language (ESL) services. Ultimately, parents of the student decide whether or not their child will participate in the ESL program.

State and federal law requires an annual assessment of EL students’ English language proficiency. This is a state language assessment.

Students are assessed each spring in the areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students are given a score in each area, as well as a total proficiency score. The scores are used to determine whether or not students are making adequate progress in English language acquisition. They are also used to make service decisions for our EL students.

Once a student attains the highest score of three (fully English proficient), the student is exited from the ESL program and is no longer considered to be an EL student.

Ohio’s English Language Proficiency (ELP) Standards for English Learner (EL) students support the development of academic language proficiency and the achievement of academic content standards. The standards reflect the four domains of language: listening, speaking, reading and writing. In Lakota, the ELP standards are integrated with state academic content standards.

English Learner (EL) students are held to the same standards as non-EL students when it comes to graduation requirements. In order to receive a diploma, all students must meet minimum standards on the state end-of-course assessments. Some EL students are eligible for accommodations on the assessment, which may include a native language translator, extended time and use of a dictionary.