English Learners
The English Learners programs at Palms Middle School are based on the programs and policies of the LAUSD Multilingual and Multicultural Education Department. The LAUSD "English Learners" programs are also referred to as the "Emergent Bilingual” programs.
The goals of these programs are to:
- Provide appropriate services to students for whom English is not a native language.
- Help English Learners meet performance criteria to reach full proficiency in English within 5 years.
- Help all students, including English Learners, participate fully in college-preparatory (A-G) courses and graduate from high school ready for college and careers.
- Provide full access to programs for gifted and talented students or students with disabilities, regardless of language status.
Moving from English Leaner (EL) status to English Proficiency (EP) status is called reclassification and reflects a student's readiness to succeed academically without English language development (ELD) support.
Five LAUSD EL programs are available, as shown in the chart below. Counselors and parents work together to identify the best program for each student. Annual evaluations, including the California English Language Development Test and Standards-based Test in Spanish, assess each student's progress toward EP on a scale from ELD 1 to ELD 5. English Language Development Intervention classes are available for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students requiring additional assistance. The English Learner program is directed by the English Learners (EL) Coordinator and the English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC).
LAUSD English Learner Programs (Middle School and High School)
EL means "English Learner". EP means "English Proficient".
| Instructional program | Taught in | For these students | Notable feature |
| Secondary English Learner Newcomer Program | English | EL students who have been enrolled in U.S. schools for fewer than 2 years and are beginning to learn English | Help learning U.S. school culture |
| Accelerated Learning Program for Long Term English Learners (LTEL) | English | Students who have been EL for 5 years or more and have not yet been reclassified as EP | Accelerated instruction and socio-emotinoatl support toward reclassification as EP |
| Dual Language Two-Way Immersion Program | English and the student's primary language | EL and EP students who were in dual-language programs in grades K-6 | 2 or 3 periods each day taught in the primary language |
| Mainstream English Program | English | EL and English proficient students with reasonable fluency | An emphasis on academic English |
| Structured English Immersion (SEI) Program | English | Students beginning to learn English | Academics taught in English with primary language only as needed |
Targeted Student Population Program Adviser
As Targeted Student Population (TSP) Program Adviser, Ms. McGoldrick-Shimizu assists the Principal in maintaining a comprehensive, instructionally effective and compliant program that accelerates the academic achievement of English learners, low income youth, and foster youth.
The TSP Program Adviser:
- Provides instructional support for teachers
- Facilitates meetings to discuss best practices and identify student needs.
- Facilitates peer coaching
- Works to ensure the school is meeting the needs of foster youth
- Provides professional development to all stakeholders
- Supports the English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC) and the School Site Council (SSC)
- Assists with enrollment, administration, assessments, and placement for English Learners
- Assists with identifying the initial English Language Development level of newly enrolled English learners
- Represents the school site at central office meetings
- Assists with the development of the school’s Parent Involvement Policy and School-Parent Compact
For More Information
- LAUSD Multilingual and Multicultural Education Department
- California State Testing
- Counselors Corner
- Eighth Grade English Placement
- English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC)
- Testing Summary
See School Statistics for statistics about our English Learners.