English as a Second Language Services

Intermediate Unit 1 provides English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction to students in the 25 school districts in Fayette, Greene, and Washington Counties in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. English as a Second Language instruction is a part of the student's curriculum.

Important Acronyms and Initialisms

ELL: English language learner (student)
ELD: English Language Development
ESOL: English to Speakers of Other Languages
AMAO: Annual Measureable Achievement Objectives
WIDA: World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment
ACCESS for ELLs: Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State to State for English Language Learners; Annual assessment of ELLs
ICY: Immigrant Children and Youth
ELPS: English Language Proficiency Standards
W-APT: Wisconsin, Delaware, and Arkansas Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State to State Placement Test; Initial assessment
LEP: Limited English Proficient (student)
Title III: No Child Left Behind Act (2001)

Performance Definitions

Entering

Pictorial or graphic representation of the language of the content areas
Words, phrases or chunks of language when presented with one-step commands, directions, WH-, choice or yes/no questions, or statements with with sensory, graphic, or interactive support

Beginning

General language related to the content areas
Phrases or short sentences
Oral or written language with phonological, syntactic, or semantic errors that often impede the meaning of the communication when presented with one to multiple-step commands, directions, questions, or a series of statements with sensory, graphic or interactive support

Developing

General and some specific language of the content areas
Expanded sentences in oral interaction or written paragraphs
Oral or written language with phonological, syntactic or semantic errors that may impede the communication, but retain much of its meaning, when presented with oral or written, narrative or expository descriptions with sensory, graphic or interactive support

Expanding

Specific and some technical language of the content areas
A variety of sentence lengths of varying linguistic complexity in oral discourse or multiple, related sentences or paragraphs
Oral or written language with minimal phonological, syntactic or semantic errors that do not impede the overall meaning of the communication when presented with oral or written connected discourse with sensory, graphic or interactive support

Bridging

Specialized or technical language of the content areas
A variety of sentence lengths of varying linguistic complexity in extended oral or written discourse, including stories, essays, or reports
Oral or written language approaching comparability to that of proficient English peers when presented with grade level material

Reaching

Specialized or technical language reflective of the content areas at grade level
A variety of sentence lengths of varying linguistic complexity in extended oral or written discourse as required by the specified grade level
Oral or written communication in English comparable to proficient English peers