Lewisburg Area School District Policies	Printable version
138 Limited Proficiency Program 138. LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY PROGRAM In accordance with the Board’s philosophy to provide a quality educational program to all students, the district shall provide an appropriate planned instructional program for identified students whose dominant language is not English. The purpose of the program is to increase the English-language proficiency of eligible students so that they can attain the academic standards adopted by the Board and achieve academic success. Students who have limited English proficiency (LEP) will be identified, assessed, and provided appropriate services.The Board shall adopt a program of educational services for students whose dominant language is not English. The program shall include English As a Second Language (ESL) instruction. The program shall be based on effective research-based theory, be implemented with sufficient resources and appropriately trained staff, and be evaluated periodically.The Board shall include the provisions for the LEP program in its Strategic Plan and appropriate training for professional staff in its Professional Education Plan.The Superintendent or designee shall implement and supervise an LEP program that ensures appropriate LEP instruction in each school and complies with federal and state laws and regulations.The Superintendent or designee shall develop and disseminate written procedures regarding the LEP program, including:1. Program goals.2. Student enrollment procedures.3. Assessment procedures for program entrance, measurement of progress, and program exit.4. Classroom accommodations.5. Grading policies.6. List of resources, including support agencies and interpreters.The district shall establish procedures for identifying students whose dominant language is not English. The Home Language Survey shall be completed for each student in the district and be filed in the student’s permanent record folder through graduation. For students whose dominant language is not English, assessment of the student’s English proficiency level must be completed to determine the need for English As a Second Language instruction.Students whose dominant language is not English should be enrolled in the district upon presentation of a local address and proof of immunization. Students shall have access to and be encouraged to participate in all academic and extracurricular activities available in the district.Students participating in LEP programs shall be required, with accommodations, to meet established academic standards and graduation requirements adopted by the Board.The LEP program shall be designed to provide instruction that meets each student’s individual needs, based on the assessment of English proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Adequate content area support shall be provided while the student is learning English, to assure achievement of academic standards. The LEP program shall be evaluated for effectiveness as required, based on the attainment of English proficiency, and shall be revised when necessary.Certified professional employees and appropriate support staff, when necessary, shall provide the LEP program.At the beginning of each school year, the district shall notify parents of students qualifying for LEP programs regarding the instructional program and parental options as required by law. Parents will be regularly apprised of their student’s progress. Communications with parents shall be in the language understood by the parents, whenever possible. The district shall maintain an effective means of outreach to encourage parental involvement in the education of their children.References:Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964 – 42 U.S.C. Sec. 2000dEqual Education Opportunity Act, amending Education Amendment of 1974 - 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1703No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, P.L. 107-334, 115 State., Title III Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient and Immigrant Students, amends Title III U.S.C. Sec. 6801 et seq.School Code 24 P.S. Section 1205.1, 1205.2State Board of Education Regulations 22 PA Code Sec. 4.13, 4.26Basic Education Circular July 1, 2001: Educating Students With Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and English Language Learner (ELL)Lau v. Nichols – 1974Plyler v. Doe – 1982Castaneda v. Pickard - 1981