MOBILE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM

DR. REGINALD EGGLESTON A S S I S TA N T S U P E R I N T E N D E N T

F E D E R A L A N D S P E C I A L P R O G R A M S

TRACY H. JAYE S L / M I G R A N T C O O R D I N AT O R

The English as a Second Language Program

It is the goal of the ESL Program of the Mobile County Public School System to ensure all

students classified as EL and/or Immigrant, are awarded all opportunities for success that

any other student would be granted in the district.

The ESL Department works diligently to ensure that we are in compliance with all State and Federal requirements as outlined in the law.

English as a Second Language

English as a Second Language

The Civil Rights Act, Title VI 1964“No person in the United States, on the ground of

race, color or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” -42 U.S.C. § 2000d.

English as a Second Language

The failure of a school system to provide English language instruction to national origin students who do not speak English, or to provide them with other adequate instruction denies them a meaningful opportunity to participate in the public educational program.- Lau v. Nichols (U.S. Supreme Court Decision, 1974).

English as a Second Language

“…The undocumented status of these children does not establish a sufficient rational basis for denying them benefits that the State affords other residents…”- Plyler v. Doe (U.S. Supreme Court Decision, 1982)

MCPSS ESL Enrollment Policy

All language minority children must be allowed to attend school, regardless of their ability to produce a birth certificate, social

security number, or immigration documentation.

Children may not be excluded from school because they do not have a social security

number.

ESL Enrollment

If a student entering MCPSS does not have or does not wish to give a social security card, a

student identification number will be assigned by Student Services.

How We Identify our Students

Every student who comes to enroll in MCPSS is required to complete a Home Language Survey. A copy is maintained on file in the student’s permanent record for the duration of their education.

The Home Language Survey asks, at a minimum, Is a language other than English frequently spoken at home? Is your child’s first language a language other than English? What language did your child learn when he/she first began

to talk? What language does your child most frequently speak at

home?

How We Identify our Students

If all responses on the Home Language Survey indicate that English is the only language, the student is considered an English-only speaker.

If a student indicates anything other than English on any portion of the survey, a copy should be faxed to the ESL Office (221-5186) and a copy

should be given to your resident ESL teacher (if applicable).

For online registration, a copy will get forwarded to our office.

How We Identify our Students

As we are acclimating to Online Registration, please assist our department by contacting us if you need any assistance registering any ESL student

It is a federal requirement that we present the Home Language Survey, when feasible, in the students native language. Please contact us if you feel this is necessary. We will assist you.

How We Identify our Students

The district utilizes TransAct to secure translated Home Language Surveys for the majority of languages in the district.

How We Identify our Students

EL students are given additional time to get in the required paperwork such as immunization documentation. If after 30 days you still do not have the documentation you require, please contact Student Services. The ESL office will work closely with the student until we get the required documentation

Additional information can be found on page 24 of the Student Support Services Handbook.

Employment Surveys

Employment Surveys are used to identify migrant students

Migrant Student Ages 3-21, and Is entitled to a free public education (through grade 12) under

State law or is below the age of compulsory school attendance, and

Is the child of a migrant agricultural worker or migrant fisher, or poultry worker, and

The child moved within the preceding 36 months in order to seek or obtain qualifying work, or to accompany or join the migrant agricultural worker or migrant fisher in order to seek or obtain work.

Employment Surveys

A migrant student may or may not be an EL. American students can be migrant.

We must keep on record for every new student to the district and all Kindergarten, Sixth graders and Ninth graders.

Migrant Program

Designed to help migratory children overcome educational disruption, cultural and language barriers, social isolation, various health-related problems, and other factors that may inhibit their ability to do well in school.

Migrant Program

Send us all Employment Surveys at the first of the year for K, 6 and 9th grades and whenever

you get them during the year for new students.

You do NOT keep employment surveys!!

Employment surveys are now a part of the online registration

process.

Checking for Understanding

Question

Esperanza comes to register for your school. She does not have a birth certificate.

Do you allow her to register?

YES!

Question

Who do you call to get a student number for Esperanza?

Student Services!

Question

How would we identify Esperanza as a potential ESL Student?

Home Language Survey!

Question

Where do we keep the Home Language Survey?

Permanent Record!

Question

How would we know if Esperanza was a Migrant student or not?

Employment Survey!

Question

Esperanza does not have a birth certificate or immunization card.

Do we still let her in school?

YES!!

Question

Esperanza is potentially and ESL student.

She should be immediately directed to the ESL Welcome Center to be registered.

NO!

INOW

You do NOT mark a student Migrant or ESL in INOW.

We do this in our office. It is very important we do it as we must maintain a database of students.

Remember, do NOT code our kids in INOW.

The ESL and Migrant Program

We appreciate all your assistance in making our children successful.

You matter to us!

We appreciate you!

The ESL and Migrant Program

When in doubt……

CALL US!!We will be happy to assist you, anytime!!!

For More Information

Dr. Reginald EgglestonAssistant Superintendent of Federal Programs

251-221-5216

Tracy H. JayESL/Migrant Coordinator

251-221-5190

Jenny ReyESL Welcome Center Resource Teacher

251-221-5184