Promising Practice

Strategies to Improve
Graduation Rates for
English Learners
Creating Successful Transitions to Postsecondary Opportunities

Virginia Department of Education

Office of Program Administration and Accountability
2016 Coordinators Technical Assistance Academy
August 2-4, 2016

Facilitators
Dr. Christopher Kelly
Virginia Department of Education

Joseph Wharff
Virginia Department of Education

Division Presenters
Alex Saxton
Chesterfield County Public Schools

Charlene Jordan
Radford City Public Schools

Teresa Vignaroli
Loudoun County Public Schools

Effective Planning
Develop a plan to address Limited English
Proficient (LEP) students needs.

Create a Plan

Newcomer
EL

High School Courses/

English Language
Classes

Diploma
or
Alternatives*

*Transition to GED, Community College, or Career Academy

Chesterfield County Public Schools

Newcomer EL (Facilitator)
A division should begin by answering the following
questions:
1. What is your plan for transitioning high school
ELs?
2. If so, what kind of academic advising do you
provide?
3. What pathways and resources are available to
students?

Chesterfield County Schools

ESOL Welcome Center
Housed with the ESOL department

One full-time and one part-time staff member year

round
Part-time staff hired in summer to handle volume
900 students screened in School Year 2015-2016

Assessment
Academic history
WAPT and K-WAPT
L1 literacy assessment
Math screeners

Family background

Placement
Factors Determining High School Placement:

Transcript evaluation
Student/parent goals
Age
SLIFE/alternative programs

Opportunity to Provide Resources

Common Needs:
Vaccines and school physicals
Adult ESOL classes

Documentation assistance
Translation services
Navigating the U.S. school system

Opportunity to Track Data

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Radford City Public Schools

High School/EL Courses (Facilitator)

A division should begin by answering the following
questions:
1. What is a typical high school schedule for Els?
2. How do you coordinate EL services with high
school courses?
3. What kind of electives or programs are
available to ELs?

Radford High School

Demographics: Understand your students.
Radford City Schools is a small school division of
around 1500 students located along the New River in
Southwestern Virginia.
Radford University, New River Community College
(NRCC), and Virginia Tech are local resources
available to address the diverse changes with our
population of students.
The number of EL students since 2003 has ranged
from 3 to 24 students.
Current enrollment is 10 students (4 students in K-2; 4
students 3-6; and 2 students at Radford High School.

Radford High School

Demographics: Understand your students.
The Spanish speaking student has been in U.S. schools for
five years and the Arabic speaking student for six years.
Both students were in formal educational programs in their
home countries.
Being a small school system, we are able to know a great
deal about our students.
We meet with their families, know their siblings, and
engage with them in our community.
The goal of the presentation is to examine a case study of
two high school EL students.
Being a small school system with a small number of EL
students, the programs are a reflection of what EL students
need.

Case Study 1
The EL student has been in U.S. schools since 2012. He
has:
Adapted well at school and in the community.
Joined and plays soccer for the high school team.
Completed 10th grade this year and will be a rising
junior next fall.
Passed one SOL (Algebra 1) and failed one SOL
(Biology 1).
Enrolled in a summer school remediation class so that
he can retake the SOL Biology test.
Signed up in the fall to take the required classes for a
standard diploma.
Shown interest in taking classes at NRCC upon
graduation.

Case Study 1 WIDA results

WIDA Scores for Case Study 1 2012 Gr 6 to
Overall PL

3.2

3.73.9

4.5

2.9

Comp PL

2.8
2.9
3

Literacy PL

Oral L PL

3.2

3.2
3.2
2.5

Read PL

4.7

3.7

2.7

Write PL

2.9

2.9
3.1

2.7
2.7
0

5.6

2.7

Listen PL

5.2

3.5

2.9

Speak PL

2016 Level C
2014 Level A
2013 Level A
2012 Level A

3.7

Case Study 1 Report Card

Case Study 2
The EL student has been in U.S. schools since 2011. She
has:
Adapted well at school and in the community while
keeping with her cultural heritage.
Passed all classes and SOL tests and is on target to
receive a standard diploma, even while working as a
part time job after school.
Taken a nursing class at NRCC this summer and plans
to continue after graduation to earn her nursing
license.

Graph for Case Study 2

WIDA Scores for Case Study 2 Grade 6 Tier A 2011 to Grade
11 Tier C 2016
Overall PL

3.8
3.9

Literacy PL

3.94.1
4.1

Oral L PL

4.3
3.9 4.2

Read PL
Speak PL

2.9

Listen PL
0

6
6
6

3.6

2.4

3.5
3.4

5.3

4.7
4.74.9

4
4
4

3.6

2015 Level B
2014 Level A
5.7
2013 Level A
2012 Level A
6 2011 Level A

5.4

4.8
4.7
4.74.9

3.2 3.5

Write PL

5.92016 Level C

4.5

3.6
3.63.8
3.9

Comp PL

5.5

4.9
4.4 4.7

4.2

4.9

3.9
4

Case Study 2 Report Card

Loudon County Public Schools

Diploma or Alternatives
A division should begin by answering the following
questions:
1. What are the various pathways to college and
career?
2. How do you coordinate with GED and
community college programs?
3. What other programs or partnerships are
available to support ELs?

Welcome Center Services

Screening and identification of potential English Learners
(ELs)
EL paperwork completion for home school
Mailings of Parent Notification letters

Secondary mathematics placement assessment

Course placement recommendations
Information on LCPS programs, community resources, and
services

Phased Approach
Opened August 2015
Three staff members: coordinator, EL Assessor,
Counselor
Tasked to service 86 schools
In 2015-2016 began with neediest cluster to
include feeder schools
November 2015 began servicing older aged ELs
April 2016 began servicing all LCPS high schools

Assumptions and Barriers

Newcomer EL programs (Sheltered)

ELs in verified credit courses
Embedded ELD standards
ACCESS reports
Award of transfer credits
Verifying foreign diploma

Potential barriers to graduating on time:

Seat hours
Scheduling: A/B
Verified class offerings
Newcomer EL classes

Secondary Level: Older Aged ELs

Additional services:
Transcript analysis
Transcript interpretation, as needed
Counseling Interest Interview (attachment)
Contact foreign institutions, as needed (document)
Foreign diploma review (document)
Program placement recommendations (if applicable)
Adult education
NOVA
Monroe Technical Institute

Adult Education
Adult Education and Family Literacy
Act (AEFLA) Funded Programs in Loudoun
County
Adult Basic Education (ABE)
GED Test Preparation
Adult Education EL programs
Non Grant Funded Programs in Loudoun
County
Adult High School Program
General Adult Education Program

Questions

VDOE Contacts
Dr. Christopher Kelly
Education Coordinator
Office of Program Administration and Accountability
Christopher.Kelly@doe.virginia.gov
(804) 225-2122

Joseph A. Wharff
Student Assistance Systems Coordinator/School Counseling
Specialist
Joseph.Wharff@doe.virginia.gov
(804) 225-3370
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School Division Contacts

Alexandra Saxton
ESOL Teacher
Chesterfield County Public Schools
alexandra_saxton@ccpsnet.net
(804) 748-1405
Charlene Jordan
ESOL Teacher
Radford City Public Schools
cjordan@rcps.org
(540) 731-3647

32

School Division Contacts

Teresa Vignaroli
EL Supervisor
Loudoun County Public Schools
Teresa.Vignaroli@lcps.org
(571) 252-1390
Charisse Rosario
ELL Welcome Center Coordinator
Loudoun County Public Schools
571-252-1680
charisse.rosario@lcps.org

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