Solano County Office of Education - English Language Development (ELD)

English Language Development (ELD)

English Language Development is the ability to read, write, and communicate with competence and confidence in English across a range of personal and academic contexts. Through effective ELD, emerging bilingual students have expanding opportunities for career and college success and for full and wise participation in a democratic society and global economy.

DEMYSTIFYING ELD

Myth: If children are exposed to English and their native language at home, it leads to language disorders and delays.

Fact: Students with a stronger foundation in their native language tend to acquire a second language more easily. Research has demonstrated that knowledge, skills, and abilities that students have developed in their primary language can transfer to their development of English language and literacy.

Myth: English Learners are provided with 30 minutes of ELD each day.

Fact: Integrated ELD is provided in content area classrooms where California ELD standards are developed in context. Designated ELD is a protected time during the regular school day, in which teachers design lessons using California ELD Standards as the focal standards in ways that build into and from content instruction.

Myth: English Learners need basic levels of English proficiency before they can access grade level content.

Fact: Regardless of their individual backgrounds and levels of English language proficiency, English Learners at all levels of proficiency are able to engage in intellectually challenging and content-rich activities, with appropriate support from teachers that addresses their language and academic learning needs.

EQUITY IN ELD

Solano County students demonstrate a wide variety of skills, abilities, and interests as well as varying proficiency in English and other languages. They come from diverse cultural, linguistic, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, have different experiences, and live in various familial and socio-economic circumstances. The greater the variation of the student population, the richer the language learning opportunities for all, and the more assets upon which teachers may draw. In order to accelerate language development and capitalize on varied student strengths the notion of shared responsibility amongst educators is particularly crucial.

(Adapted from California English Language Arts/English Language Development Framework p. 881)

ESTABLISHING AN AFFIRMATIVE CULTURE

California’s English Learner Roadmap outlines policy to support schools in affirming, welcoming, and responding to the diverse range of English Learner strengths, needs, and identities. Solano County Office of Education is proud to work in collaboration with 19 other county offices of education and Californians Together to support LEAs in implementing the California English Learner Roadmap. The initiative, EL RISE! (English Learner Roadmap Implementation for System Excellence) is designed to bring about systemic change to improve education for the 1.2 million English learners who attend school in California.

SCOE Support Includes: