English Language Development

STAFF
Andrea Saenz
English Learner Program Coordinator
651-403-7012 | andrea.saenz@isd197.org

District Interpreters

The district's interpreters are fluent in English and Spanish. Working closely with students, families, and staff daily, they interpret and translate information as needed. Some of their services include going with families to new enrollment registration, early childhood screenings, special education assessments, parent-teacher conferences, and parent communication. Click here to send an email for more information.

ACCESS 2.0 English Language Proficiency Test

School District 197 serves almost 800 multilingual learners who qualify for English Language Development (ELD) support. All students eligible for ELD service are required to take the ACCESS 2.0 English Language Proficiency Test annually until they reach an overall composite score of 4.5 with three out of the four language domains (Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening) of at least a score of 3.5. This is a required test even for students whose families have refused ESL services. Scroll down for more information on the ACCESS 2.0 test.

Over 730 students in School District 197 are identified as multilingual and use a primary language other than English. As a result, the district offers a variety of services to students who need help in learning and becoming fluent in English for academic purposes. Teachers licensed in English as a Second Language and classroom teachers collaborate closely to provide a well-rounded education for our students while bridging classroom content with English language instruction.

Services include:

  • Observation
  • Direct instruction
  • Progress monitoring

School District 197's English Language Development program incorporates a variety of instructional models, depending on student needs, including:

Content-Based ELD Instruction: A program that integrates language and content instruction based on MN standards aligned to both content and English language development standards. Examples include: 

  • Pull-out or Stand-Alone ELD: An ELD class taught by an ESL-licensed teacher that is tied to grade level learning targets, but which generally takes place in a separate location from the student’s general education classroom or students are pulled aside within the learning environment. 

  • Push-in ELD: ELD instruction taught by an ESL-licensed teacher that is tied to grade level learning targets which takes place in the student’s general education classroom during core instruction.  

  • Co-taught ELD: A class in which an ESL-licensed teacher and a grade-level licensed content teacher collaboratively plan and deliver integrated language and content to provide English language development instruction and access to grade-level content.

Minnesota Department of Education EL Recommendations and Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
Providing programs that meet the needs of our culturally and linguistically diverse students is our main objective. As a result, we're putting systems and procedures in place that align with the Minnesota Department of Education's recommendations for effective English-learner programs. To read about these recommendations, click here.

English Language Resources