Berkshire Hills Regional School District English Learner’s program that consists of 5 teachers: 2 in the elementary school, 1 at the middle school, and 2 at the High School. We also have a bilingual parent liaison (Spanish-English) that helps families navigate the school system.

ELE Program Types we offer:

• Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Program: a program that incorporates strategies to make content area instruction more understandable to English learners and to promote English language development. This type of instruction is provided by the regular teacher and it is used for students with higher language proficiency levels. Content area instruction integrates sheltering strategies to make content comprehensive and develop content area academic language. Core subject teachers that serve our English Learners have a special Sheltered English Immersion Endorsement from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to serve EL students.
• English as a Second Language (ESL) classes: direct English language instruction by a specialized teacher that promotes success in the regular classroom by fostering development of speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. This part of the program is used as push-in services, where the ESL teacher goes in the regular classroom for a period of time or in ‘pull-out’ service, where students go in a separate classroom and receive instruction in a small group setting.
• Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education (SLIFE): The BHRSD SLIFE program will be a full-year program for a cohort of SLIFE/Newcomer students. These students are housed at the high school and remain in the program the entire year. Content area classes (Math/Science) are co-taught by the ESL teacher with full-year courses. The focus of the program is rapid English language acquisition through a culturally and linguistically responsive teaching environment consistent with students’ level of English language proficiency and academic needs. Instruction targets gaps in skills and knowledge that students may have as a result of limited or interrupted education.

Constant collaboration between regular teachers and ESL teachers ensures the instruction happens in the classroom or in a setting separate from the regular classroom using WIDA English Language Development Standards and focuses on developing students’ academic language ability in the four core content areas (English language arts, math, science, and social studies). Instruction is provided in the four domains of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The hours of service by the ESL Instructor per day can vary depending on the student’s current level of English proficiency and other needs.

Please know that our English Learners also participate in all other district programs without restriction, if they meet the eligibility requirements that apply to all students. These include special education and Title I services, honors and Advanced Placement (AP) classes at the high school, behavioral support programs, and all after school programs, including athletics and summer programs

Registration at the Schools

All student enrollments within the BHRSD schools are handled through the building based administrative support staff. The building based administrative support staff serve as welcoming ambassadors for families, providing information on our schools and supporting the transition into the school community. The Family/Community Liaison or building based administrative support staff will guide families on accessing language assistance and/or will also pursue district interpretation and/or translation services as needed at the time of registration.

Language Survey (LS) Procedures

• All newly enrolled students complete the LS as part of the BHRSD registration process.
• The LS is available in the preferred language of each family and is included in the district’s online registration packets.
• If the family comes into the school to register their child, a dedicated staff member is available to administer the LS.

Interpreting the LS*:

*ALL surveys collected will be copied to the English Language Department at each school site for purposes of interpreting the LS responses.

Section 1: Determine the primary language the student uses in Section 1 and inform the office to code that student’s language in the SIMS system.

Section 2: BHRSD will determine if the family requires translation and/or interpretation and will provide materials in the family’s preferred language, including interpretation services when they come into school.

Section 3: Interpret information about the student’s former schooling, including:

1. If the student has attended a US school before;
2. If the student may have Limited or Interrupted Formal Education and should take the SLIFE pre-screener;
3. Whenever the student has been considered an EL in another District (See Identifying ELS from Other Districts) EL Teacher will screen newly identified students in the first week of classes and will determine whether to screen all PK-12 ELs based on the Language Survey Rubric.

EL Student Placement Procedures

BHRSD bases EL language support placement on guidance provided by DESE.

Recommended Periods of ESL instruction for ELs Based on ACCESS for ELLs® and WIDA Screener Results (full-day Kindergarten through grade 12):

BHRSD offers Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) with English Language Support.

To the extent possible, students will receive English Language Development services in groups based on ACCESS and WIDA Screener scores, and on students’ grade level.