English Learners (ELs)
Fountain Valley School District (FVSD) serves approximately 6,000 Transitional Kindergarten through eighth-grade students. English learners (ELs) account for about 10% of the student population. Within the EL population, there are more than 35 different languages spoken. The majority of ELs speak Vietnamese, followed by Spanish and Arabic.
FVSD believes that effective, high-quality EL services:
- Develop English language proficiency within five years.
- Provide equal access to all aspects of the core curriculum.
- Enable ELs to succeed academically and socially.
- Include daily instruction in English Language Development (ELD) and support during content area instruction through Specially Designed Academic Instruction in English (SDAIE) strategies.
- Value multilingual abilities and, whenever possible, encourage students to develop proficiency in multiple languages.
- Acknowledge and appreciate the diversity of all languages and cultures.
- Welcome and encourage parental involvement.
The FVSD Master Plan for ELs is tied to and based on the following:
- Federal law
- State laws and regulations
- District plans and policies
- Research-informed, proven instructional practices
The purpose of the English Learner program is to develop fluency in speaking, reading, and writing English in each student whose primary language is not English, enhance students’ self-esteem, promote cross-cultural understanding, and provide equal opportunity for academic achievement, including academic instruction through the primary language when necessary. Regular education classes and staff are included in the FVSD Master Plan for ELs to ensure all personnel commit to providing the best possible educational services for ELs.