Who participates in ELD classes?
 California requires all parents to complete a home language survey when they register their children for school. The survey asks:
- What language did this student learn when first beginning to talk?
- What language do you use most frequently to speak to this student?
- What language does this student most frequently use at home?
- What language is most often spoken by the adults at home?
If your answer to the first three questions on the survey is a language other than English, your child's English proficiency will be evaluated.
Students will be asked to take the California English Language Development Test (CELDT) and will be evaluated as:
- English Learner (EL)
OR
- Fluent English Proficient (FEP)
English language proficiency has two dimensions: basic interpersonal conversational skills (BICS) and cognitive academic language proficiency (CALP). Conversational language skills tend to be easier for students to acquire because they benefit from the contextual cues of social encounters. Conversely, academic language skills (used in the classroom) are more difficult for students to master because they are generally more complex and less related to social context.
English Learner (EL) students participate in the English Language Development program until they are proficient in English.
How does the ELD program work?
Elementary ELD Program (K – 5)
Each Palo Alto elementary school offers ELD instruction. English-learning students participate in small-group ELD classes. ELD teachers carefully coordinate instructional time away from the mainstream classroom to minimize disruption with regular curriculum. PAUSD teachers are trained to use SDAIE teaching strategies that help students understand content while they are improving their academic English skills.
Secondary ELD Program (6 – 12)
In secondary schools, ELD is taught through language arts and social studies. Programs are hosted at JLS Middle School and Gunn High School. If you do not live in the JLS or Gunn neighborhoods, your student will be granted an intra-resident transfer to participate in the ELD program.
Primary Language Tutors
At the request of ELD teachers, Primary Language Tutors work with beginning English Learners on their mainstream class assignments during their first year in our District. They coordinate closely with students' mainstream classroom teachers. We make every effort to offer this service to all students during their first year. Primary Language Tutors are provided when available.
How can the parents of English Learners get involved?
English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC)
Each school site with 21 or more English Learners has an English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC). Parents of English Learners and English Only students can participate in the site ELAC. This committee advises the school principal, staff and site council. The ELAC meets with the site principal. To accommodate parent schedules there are two training opportunities for new ELAC representatives. Representatives only need to attend one training. New ELAC Representative Training: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 from 5:30-7:30 PM or Tuesday, October 27, 2009 from 8:30-10:30 AM. The location for both meetings will be Room A, in the Palo Alto Unified School District, 25 Churchill Ave.
District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC)
Each site ELAC sends a representative to the District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC). The DELAC advises the district EL Program coordinator and athe Board of Education. The DELAC meets with the coordinator of the English Learner Program at the district office.
Danaé L. Gray, M.A.
Coordinator for Academic Success
If you have questions, contact the English Learner Program office at (650) 329-3736 or eld@pausd.org
Revised August 2009
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