Model Board Policy Manual

ISBA Policy Management Console

Board Policy 2385: English Learners Program	Status: ADOPTED
Original Adopted Date: 10/10/2023 | Last Revised Date:7/16/2024          | Last Reviewed Date:

In accordance with the Board’s philosophy to provide a quality educational program to all students, the District shall provide an appropriate planned instructional program for identified students whose dominant language is not English. The purposes of the program are: 

1. To help ensure that English learners, including immigrant children and youth, attain English proficiency and develop high levels of academic achievement in English; 
2. To assist all English learners, including immigrant children and youth, to achieve at high levels in academic subjects so that all English learners can meet the same challenging state academic standards that all children are expected to meet; 
3. To assist teachers (including preschool teachers), principals, and other school leaders, state educational agencies, local educational agencies, and schools in establishing, implementing, and sustaining effective language instruction educational programs designed to assist in teaching English learners, including immigrant children and youth; 
4. To assist teachers (including preschool teachers), principals and other school leaders, state educational agencies, and local educational agencies to develop and enhance their capacity to provide effective instructional programs designed to prepare English learners, including immigrant children and youth, to enter all-English instructional settings; and 
5. To promote parental, family, and community participation in language instruction educational programs for the parents, families, and communities of English learners.

Accordingly, the Board shall adopt a program of educational services for each student whose dominant language is not English. The program shall include bilingual/bicultural or English as a Second Language instruction.

The Superintendent or designee shall implement and supervise an English Learners program which ensures appropriate English Learners instruction and complies with applicable laws and regulations.

The Superintendent or designee, in conjunction with appropriate stakeholders, shall develop and disseminate written procedures regarding the English Learners program, including:

1. Program goals;
2. Student enrollment procedures;
3. Assessment procedures for program entrance, measurement of progress, and program exit;
4. Classroom accommodations;
5. Grading policies; and
6. A list of resources, including support agencies and interpreters.

The District shall establish procedures for identifying students whose dominant language is not English. For students whose dominant language is not English, assessment of the student’s English proficiency level must be completed to determine the need for English as a Second Language instruction.

Students whose dominant language is not English should be enrolled in the District upon proof of residency and other legal requirements. Students shall have access to, and be encouraged to participate in, all academic and extracurricular activities of the District.

Students participating in English Learners programs shall be required, with accommodations, to meet established academic standards and graduation requirements adopted by the Board.

The English Learners program shall be designed to provide instruction which meets each student’s individual needs based on the assessment of English proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Adequate content-area support shall be provided while the student is learning English to assure achievement of academic standards.

All English Learners shall be assessed annually using the state-approved assessment of English language proficiency.

The English Learners program shall be evaluated for effectiveness as required, based on the attainment of English proficiency, and shall be revised when necessary.

Statewide Assessments

English Learners shall participate in the District’s statewide assessments, unless 20 USC 6311(b)(3) and the regulations of the State Department of Education allow for their exclusion from an assessment.

To be eligible for exemption from the Idaho Reading Indicator, a student must have been enrolled in the District for less than two full school years, and must score less than a two on the English Language proficiency assessment. If a student qualifies, the Superintendent or designee shall determine whether a student should be exempted before the administration of the Fall assessment and for the remainder of that school year. The Superintendent or designee may require a student who qualified for the exemption to take the Idaho Reading Indicator if they determine that it is educationally appropriate or if it serves as a prerequisite for that student to qualify for additional education services.  

At the beginning of each school year the District shall notify parents of students qualifying for English Learners programs about the instructional program and parental options, as required by law. Parents/guardians will be regularly apprised of their student’s progress. Whenever possible, communications with parents or guardians shall be in the language understood by the parents.

The District shall maintain an effective means of outreach to encourage parental involvement in the education of their children.

Reporting

At the conclusion of every second fiscal year during which grant funds are received, the Superintendent or designee shall provide the Idaho Department of Education with a report, in a form prescribed by the Department describing the District’s English Learner program and activities and providing the District’s applicable demographic data. 

Legal References	Description
20 USC § 6311	Basic Program Requirements – State Plans
20 USC § 6811, et seq.	English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement Act
20 USC §§ 1701-58	Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974
42 USC § 2000(d), et seq.	Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
ESEA	Section 1111(b)(2)
IC 33-1618	Assessment Exemption

Cross References

Code	Description
4160	Parents Right-to-Know Notices