¿Que es el Programa Bilingüe? For further information contact: English Language Learners Services 914 376 8230 Dual Language/Two-way Bilingual Enrichment Model 914 376 8213

Teaching and Learning
English to Speakers of Other Languages
Transitional Bilingual Education

English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) is offered in all schools to limited English proficient students, K-12, who speak languages other than English. The ESOL Program uses English as a Second Language (ESL) approach, allowing students to learn English from concrete to abstract levels of language in a spiraling fashion. The ESOL program develops skills in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing through content area instruction. ESOL students participate in all districtwide and individual building activities. ESOL is required for all Spanish speaking limited English proficient students whose parents have opted them out of transitional bilingual education.

Transitional Bilingual Education Program (TBE) is offered to Spanish speaking students who are limited English proficient, as defined by the New York State Education Department. TBE offers instruction in the content areas that enriches comprehension through Spanish Native Language while fostering English Language development.

Dual Language/Two-way Bilingual Enrichment Model is offered at two elementary schools in grades PreK-3 at School 13 and Robert C. Dodson. The Dual Language/ Two-way Bilingual Enrichment Model offers both English Language Learners and English proficient students the opportunity for high academic achievement while becoming bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural, to enable them to function successfully in a global society. This model uses English 50% of the time and Spanish 50% of the time, with special instructional strategies that integrate language skills across the curriculum. This model will be expanded one grade level each year at each Dual Language School.

The ESL component of both the ESOL and TBE programs addresses social and academic English. Social English is supported through interaction with English only students. At the same time, the English as a Second Language (ESL) component develops the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing through content area support to enable students to transfer to the English program of instruction. The goals of both programs are to provide a transitional approach to fluency in English in order to meet all graduation requirements.

All new entrants to the programs are administered the Language Assessment Battery-Revised (LAB-R) for initial placement. To assess student language growth, determine continuation of services, and be in compliance with NCLB guidelines, the New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test (NYSESLAT) is administered yearly to students.

Transitional Bilingual Education Program (TBE) is offered at five elementary schools: Montessori School 31 in PreK, K, and 1; Eugenio Maria de Hostos Microsociety School in PreK – 5 ; Enrico Fermi School in grades PreK – 8; School 13 in grades 4 and 5; Robert C. Dodson in grades 4 – 8; and Roosevelt High School in grades 9 – 12 .