English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

Program Overview

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) is an English language development program for Kindergarten to grade 12 students whose home language is a language other than English. The program focuses on developing their proficiency in processing and producing academic language across the content areas.

Goals

1. Provide an asset-based approach to develop English learners’ language and literacy through listening, speaking, reading, and writing in English.
2. Emphasize learning English in order to access grade-level WIDA and content standards, participate meaningfully in academic and special programs, meet the same challenging state academic standards that all Maryland students are expected to meet, and attain proficiency in English as measured by Maryland’s English Language Proficiency Assessment.

Curriculum Description

Instruction and assessment is based on the 2020 WIDA English Language Development Standards Frameworks. Below are the grade-level cluster Proficiency Level Descriptors. These descriptors identify what ELs will be able to do toward the end of each proficiency level, when instruction and assessment are scaffolded appropriately.

 Elementary:  Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grades 2-3, Grades 4-5

Secondary:  Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12

WIDA Resources:  ELD Standards Framework