{"id":1948,"date":"2015-09-25T13:25:28","date_gmt":"2015-09-25T17:25:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fhps.net\/?page_id=1948"},"modified":"2025-09-09T16:32:37","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T20:32:37","slug":"multi-language-learners","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.fhps.net\/departments\/instruction\/multi-language-learners\/","title":{"rendered":"Multilingual Learners"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Helping Our Multilingual Learners Achieve<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Multilingual Learner (MLL) Definition<\/h1>\n

\u201cMultilingual learner\u201d refers to any child learning and developing two or more languages as they navigate their home, community, and early care and education (ECE) settings. Children’s experiences, environments, language exposure, and opportunities to use language play critical roles in their early language development. While all children need support, guidance, and positive interactions with adults, multilingual children need additional attention to their linguistic needs and experiences as they develop their home language(s) and additional languages. Supporting multilingual children’s language development is critical for their future success in K-12 systems. These are commonly called English as a Second Language (ESL) or Multilingual Learner (MLL) services.<\/p>\n

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Recent Newsletter<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Multilingual Learner Family News<\/h1>\n

The district frequently sends an emailed newsletter to MLL families throughout the school year. You may access the newsletter here.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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Our Mission<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Forest Hills Public Schools seeks to ensure that all multilingual learners achieve the English language proficiency needed to acquire the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary to build meaningful and productive lives.<\/p>\n

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Program Information<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

MLL Enrollment & Programming<\/span><\/h3>\n

Identification Using Home Language Survey Questions:<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Newly-enrolled students who may be eligible for English as a Second Language (ESL) services are identified through the Home Language Survey questions on FHPS enrollment forms.<\/p>\n

English Language Proficiency Assessment:<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Certified MLL staff will administer the State of Michigan\u2019s English Language Proficiency Assessment (WIDA Screener) in the student\u2019s home school. This test assesses the child\u2019s abilities to listen, speak, read, and write in English.<\/p>\n

Permission to Provide Services:<\/strong><\/h4>\n

A letter communicating the student\u2019s WIDA Screener scores is sent to the parent\/guardian. This letter informs the family of their student\u2019s assessment results and indicates if they are eligible for ESL services.<\/p>\n

Annual Proficiency Testing:<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Every spring, MLL students will be reassessed with the WIDA ACCESS for ELL test (through the State of Michigan) to measure English Language proficiency. Results of this assessment are sent home to families the following fall. The results are also used to determine which MLL students will continue to be eligible to receive ESL services and which may be exited and monitored.<\/p>\n

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MLL Program Exit Criteria<\/span><\/h3>\n

Students eligible for exiting MLL services are identified during the summer months when the annual WIDA ACCESS\/WIDA ALTERNATE ACCESS results are released. Students eligible for exiting include all K-12th grade MLL students who have met a WIDA overall score of 4.8.<\/p>\n

Formerly English Learners (FEL)<\/span><\/h3>\n

The MLL department provides principals with a detailed list of student assessment results, as well as a list of exited students. MLL program staff and building staff participate in quarterly monitoring to ensure exited students perform satisfactorily. The state requirement is that FEL (Former English Learner) students be monitored for four years after exiting the MLL program.<\/p>\n

MLL Program Re-entry<\/span><\/h3>\n

When a school\u2019s monitoring of an exited MLL student indicates that a persistent language barrier may be the cause of academic difficulty because general education and remediation services have proven inadequate to accelerate the student\u2019s learning, students will be rescreened to determine if there is a persistent language barrier and will offer additional language assistance services as needed.<\/p>\n

Complaint Procedure<\/span><\/h3>\n

MLL student learner concerns and\/or complaints may be addressed to:<\/p>\n