The goal of the English Learner program is to develop each student's academic English to help them be successful in school.
In order to qualify for EL services, a student's ability to speak English is influenced by another language. The student doesn't necessarily have to speak another language. The requirement for EL services are listed here.

• The student is between the ages of 3-21 and enrolled or preparing to enroll in an elementary or secondary school

• The student was not born in the United States or whose primary language not English; OR

• The student comes from an environment where a language other than English has had a significant impact on the individual’s level of English language proficiency; OR

• The student is migratory, whose native language is a language other than English, and who comes from an environment where a language other than English is dominant; AND

• The student's difficulties in speaking, reading, writing, or understanding the English language may be sufficient to deny the individual:

  • the ability to meet the state’s proficient level of achievement on state assessments;

  • the ability to successfully achieve in classrooms where the language of instruction is English;

  • the opportunity to participate fully in society. (Title IX, Section 9109, No Child Left Behind Act, 2001)

EL Program Coordinator
LeAnne Tracey has seen the program grow from one single EL student to over 300 in less than a decade. If you have any questions, please contact LeAnne at leanne.tracey@willistonschools.org.