English as a Second Language (ESL) Services

Program Overview

Intermediate Unit 1 provides comprehensive English Language Development (ELD) support, direct instructional services, and administrative guidance to the 25 public school districts and non-public schools across Fayette, Greene, and Washington counties.

Our mission is to assist local educational agencies (LEAs) in meeting Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) mandates, delivering high-quality English language instruction, and fostering inclusive, supportive learning environments for English Learners (ELs) and their families.

What We Do / Direct Services

We offer a flexible range of service delivery models designed to meet the unique needs of school districts in our region:

Direct Student Instruction: On-site or itinerant certified ESL specialists who deliver targeted language instruction to eligible K–12 students.
Screening & Identification Support: Technical assistance with home language surveys, WIDA screening, placement testing, and annual ACCESS for ELLs® administration.
Curriculum & Instructional Design: Alignment of English Language Development standards with core academic content to ensure meaningful access for multilingual learners.

IU1 K–12 Title III Consortium

School districts receiving Title III funding allocations below the state threshold can pool resources through the IU1 Title III Consortium to maximize impact and compliance.

Consortium Benefits for Participating Districts:

Supplemental Instructional Resources: Access to specialized technology, language tools, bilingual literature, and supplemental materials for English Learners.
Quarterly Administrator Role-Alike Meetings: Collaborative sessions for district ESL coordinators and administrators to share best practices, receive technical updates from PDE, and discuss legal guidelines.
Parent & Family Engagement: Regional events, translated communications support, and workshops designed to increase family involvement for immigrant children and youth.
Professional Learning: Subsidized or fully funded professional development opportunities focused on high-leverage ELD strategies across content areas.