BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT 501

2162

BOARD POLICY

TRANSITIONAL BILINGUAL/ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION

The Bellingham School District is committed to ensure equal educational opportunities for every student. The purpose of the Transitional Bilingual/English as a Second Language Program (ESL) in the Bellingham School District is to help students whose first language is not English become successful learners.

To this end the District and its staff shall:

1. communicate, whenever feasible, with parents of students in the ESL program in a language they can understand;
2. provide in-service training for teachers, counselors, and other staff who are involved in the District's ESL program, including alternative instructional programs, on appropriate instructional strategies and curricular materials for students from different language and cultural backgrounds; and
3. ensure that all eligible students receive appropriate ESL services.

For purposes of providing such services, procedures for identifying limited English proficient students will follow the guidelines for student eligibility as described in the State Transitional Bilingual Program.

Legal References:               RCW 28A.180

                                          WAC 392-160

Adopted:   3-24-94

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