Multi-Lingual Learning

Winthrop High School offers a comprehensive English Language Development program for students whose first language is not English.  Established procedures in accordance with Department of Elementary and Secondary Education guidelines to identify students who may be multilingual learners are followed.  A student’s English proficiency level is screened when the answer to any of the questions on the Home Language Survey (HLS) is a language other than English. A screening test is not necessary for students who come from another Massachusetts district or another WIDA state if the district is able to obtain ACCESS 2.0 results from the test that was administered within the last calendar year.  Thereby, an ML student’s placement in ESL classes is contingent upon the State required W.I.D.A. assessments (the ACCESS 2.0 Test / W.I.D.A. Screening Tool), which provides  the baseline data for counselors and ELD staff.  Information provided through this process is used to determine the correct placement of the student in an ESL class best suited to the student’s individual linguistic proficiency level and English language development needs.  Students are re-assessed annually per State requirement in order to determine their progress towards proficiency in the English Language and future placement in ESL classes.