Saint Paul Public Schools
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Newcomer Programs English language learners have had many different experiences with education, culture, and family. Many ELLs are new to the United States, but many others are not; some can read and write in their first language, but others have had little or no formal education at all. Some children have spent the majority of their lives in refugee camps; others were born in the U.S., but may live in a close-knit community where everyone speaks Spanish or Russian or Vietnamese and have therefore had very little experience with English. Because English language learners come from countless different backgrounds, it is not feasible to predict how long it will take each ELL student to achieve social and academic proficiency in English. Depending on a student’s previous education background, the effectiveness of the ESL program, and many other factors, it can take between 4-8 years, if not longer. Most experts on the subject agree that ELL students should remain in ESL programs as long as is necessary, rather than for a predetermined amount of time. In Minnesota, funding is provided for ELL students for a maximum period of five years – however, in SPPS, we continue to provide service to students for as long as they need it. |
