About The English Learner Education (ELE) Office
The ELE Department serves English Learners (ELs) in the Lynn Public Schools by facilitating comprehensive English language education and services. Lynn Public Schools offers a variety of learning environments to meet the needs of the ELs in our school district.
The primary English Learner program in Lynn Public Schools is SEI (Sheltered English Immersion). In this program, nearly all instruction is in English using appropriate supports and scaffolds to provide all students equal access to grade-level academic standards.
Elementary Schools - Kindergarten through Grade Five
SEI (Sheltered English Immersion) Program: This learning environment provides sheltered content instruction and ESL support. In these classrooms students will:
- Receive sheltered content instruction with appropriate English language scaffolds from an SEI-endorsed classroom teacher to develop skills in grade-level academic content aligned with state standards
- Be in a classroom with both English Learners and non-English Learners
- Receive ESL instruction from a certified ESL specialist
90:10 Spanish Two-Way Dual Language Program (Kindergarten at EJ Harrington Only): This learning environment provides content instruction in two languages, as well as English Language Development (ELD). In kindergarten, students will spend 90% of their day in Spanish and 10% of their day in English. The amount of English will increase by 10% each year, until 4th and 5th grade, when students will spend 50% of their day in each language. In dual language classrooms students will:
- Be in a classroom with both English Learners and non-English Learners
- Receive sheltered content in Spanish and English, with appropriate scaffolds, from an SEI-endorsed and bilingual education endorsed classroom teacher.
- Receive ELD instructional from a certified ESL specialist
Secondary Schools - Grades Six through Grade Twelve SEI
SEI (Sheltered English Immersion) Program: This learning environment provides sheltered content instruction and ESL support. In these classrooms students will:
- Be in a classroom with both English Learners and non-English Learners
- Receive sheltered content instruction with appropriate English language scaffolds from an SEI-endorsed classroom teacher to develop skills in grade-level academic content aligned with state standards
- English Learners with a Level 1 and 2 English language proficiency during their first two years in US schools, including students who have limited formal schooling, may be scheduled in targeted grade-level classrooms with other early proficient English Learners who are in their first two years in US schools, to provide intensive support for English language development and grade-level academic content
- Receive ESL instruction from a certified ESL specialist
Placement Criteria
Lynn Public Schools identifies ELs so they can receive instruction designed to assist them in learning English and subject matter content. Parents and guardians participate in the decision-making process relative to the type of program the identified EL will receive.
Lynn Public Schools uses the following process for determining whether a newly enrolled student is an English Learner:
- Home language survey to all newly enrolling students
- English proficiency assessment
- Parental notification and input
Exit Criteria
Identified EL students take the Massachusetts Department of Secondary and Elementary Education's approved ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 language proficiency test annually.
The purpose of the exam is to monitor student progress in English language proficiency in all four domains of language (listening, speaking, reading and writing). This exam, together with performance on other state and local exams, academic performance, and teacher recommendation, serves as a criterion to aid in determining when ELs have attained language proficiency comparable to that of their English-proficient peers. Once students exit the program, they are designated as Former English Learners (FEL) and are monitored for an additional four years.
