This course was developed to comply with the Multicultural Education, Training and Advocacy, Inc. (META) Consent Decree training requirements. The course was developed to assist school administrators and guidance counselors to better understand and meet the needs of limited English proficient students, their families, and their teachers.

Duration: 8 weeks
Inservice: 60 points
Audience: School Administrators and Guidance Counselors
Access to Students: No

Syllabus

Week 1: Pertinent Background Legislation and Litigation
Week 2: Accountability
Week 3: Second Language Acquisition
Week 4: Identification and Assessment of ELLs
Week 5: Instructional Delivery Models
Week 6: Comprehensible Instruction for ELLs
Week 7: Staffing and Evaluation of the School ESOL Program
Week 8: Cross Cultural Communications and Understanding]

Specific Objectives

Participants will:

• demonstrate knowledge of the pertinent state and national legislation and litigation regarding limited English proficient students, including the META Consent Decree and the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001
• demonstrate knowledge of the state and national legislation regarding promotion and academic progress of ELLs
• demonstrate knowledge of the state legislation regarding mandatory assessments for ELLs
• demonstrate knowledge of the alternative assessment procedures and accommodations for statewide and districtwide assessments for ELLs
• identify the stages of Second Language Acquisition
• conceptualize the differences between Basic Interpersonal Communications Skills (BICS) and Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency (CALP)
• understand Language Dimensions to facilitate instructional planning for ELLs
• differentiate second language learning from handicapping conditions
• be able to facilitate procedures for identification of ELLs
• demonstrate an understanding of how the language proficiency assessment is utilized
• be able to define and implement programmatic assessment
• demonstrate an understanding of the roles of the LEP Committee
• demonstrate a knowledge of alternative assessment procedures
• demonstrate knowledge of LEPSEP documentation and TERMS database
• demonstrate an understanding of ESOL entry criteria, exit criteria, monitoring, and post-reclassification processes

Implementation

Evidence that the course content has been transferred to daily instruction might include:

• demonstration of the background and requirements of the 1990 META Consent Decree to ensure compliance
• demonstration of school administrator's and guidance counselor’s roles and responsibilities at the school to ensure that ELLs achieve at their highest potential
• demonstration of school administrator's and guidance counselor’s roles as members of the LEP Committee to ensure that appropriate recommendations are made and implemented
• demonstration of second language acquisition by implementing instructional programs that address the needs of second language learners
• participation in the completion and updates of the Limited English Proficient Student Education Plan to include the programmatic assessment and academic placement of ELLs
• development of cross-cultural awareness and understanding of the major cultural groups represented in the local school district, and at the individual schools, in order to meet the needs of the ELLs within the context of a multicultural student population

Materials

In order to complete this online course, participants need to be able to access web-based content, including multimedia presentations, professional articles, and various interactive websites.

Inservice

• complete all assignments
• participate each week in the Discussion Area
• score at least 80% or higher on post test

To receive the inservice points, all course requirements must be completed independently by the participant and not plagiarized from any other source or person.

Prerequisites

Participants must possess the following computer skills and software to participate in this course:

• an understanding of your computer’s operating system and software
• the ability to access the Internet and knowledge of Internet search techniques
• the ability to download and install files from the Internet
• an up-to-date antivirus software package