• About ESOL Services

    We use effective ESOL strategies to teach our students and we try to develop their vocabulary as quickly as possible. We believe that parents should maintain their native language at home as much as possible. In fact, we encourage parents to promote native language literacy at home by reading to their child in their native language.

    How to Qualify for ESOL Services

    As a parent, when you register your child at school, you will fill out a green registration form. If you check "Yes" to any of the 3 questions in the Home Language Survey section, then by Florida state law, we are required to test your child for English proficiency within 20 days. First, we will give your child a listening/speaking test. If your child tests "Non-English Speaking" or "Limited English Speaking", then your child qualifies for ESOL services. If your child tests "Fluent English Speaking", then your child does NOT qualify for ESOL services. But if your child is in 3rd, 4th or 5th grade and tests "Fluent English Speaking", then we are required to give him/her a reading/writing test. At this point, if your child tests "Non-English Reader/Writer" or "Limited English Reader/Writer", then your child qualifies for ESOL services. If your child tests "Competent English Reader/Writer", then your child does NOT qualify for ESOL services.
     
     

    Listening/Speaking Test
    Non-English Speaking
    Limited English Speaking
    Fluent English Speaking
     
    Yes
    Yes
    No
    Reading/Writing Test
    (for 3rd, 4th and 5th grade)
    Non-English Reader/Writer
    Limited English Reader/Writer
    Competent English Reader/Writer
     
    Yes
    Yes
    No

    Enrollment in ESOL Services

    On average, most ESOL students receive services for 2-3 years. Each student progresses at a different pace. Some students may only need services for 1 year. Some students may take longer than 3 years. If a student has been receiving services for 3 years, then we are required to test him/her for every year thereafter he/she qualifies for services.

    Exiting from ESOL Services

    Students in grade 2 may exit after completing 3 years of ESOL services plus scoring proficient on the CELLA test in listening/speaking, reading and writing. Students in grades 3--5 must score proficient on the CELLA test AND at least a level 3 on the FSA reading test. Students who did not complete 3 years of ESOL services may only be exited by the ELL committee. After exiting, we will monitor the student for 2 years. If the student performs poorly, then a meeting is called to decide if the student needs to receive ESOL services again.

    ELL (English Language Learner) Committee

    At Pineview, the LEP Committee consists of the principal, homeroom teacher, reading coach and guidance counselor. The purpose of the committee is to oversee ESOL students' academic and social welfare. Any member of the committee may call for a meeting. NOTE: If an ESOL student is be retained, his/her parents MUST be notified. The committee must document the meetings and file the minutes in the ESOL student's LEP file.

    Taking Standardized Tests Required by the State and School District

    If an ESOL student has been receiving services 1 year or less, he/she may be exempt from taking standardized tests. Generally, we encourage all students to take these tests because they need the practice. The test scores do not count if the student has been receiving ESOL services for 2 years or less. Under Florida state law, we are required to provide certain accommodations for ESOL students when they are taking these tests. They may

    1. Receive extra time to finish their tests

    2. Use a bilingual dictionary

    3. Go to a separate classroom to take the tests

    If you have any questions or concerns, please e-mail changs@leonschools.net or call (850) 488-2819.