Farmington can provide several services to EL Learners depending on the level of English proficiency. These services may include:

• Intensive English Program (offered through the Newcomer Centers)
• Small EL group tutorials
• Literacy groups
• Native language support
• One-on-one service

The goal of the Farmington EL Program is to raise the level of English proficiency of the students as quickly as possible so that they can participate in their regular classrooms and in additional curricular and extracurricular activities in the district. We want every student to have a voice in our district and to always feel safe and included.

Our EL Teachers and Bilingual Instructional Assistants closely reflect the language backgrounds of our students. Farmington offers extensive teacher training intended to help teachers include bilingual students in classroom activities by taking their language backgrounds and abilities into consideration. This training includes culture-specific discussions, curriculum modifications, Second Language Acquisition Theory, and other related topics.

How We Identify and Support English Learners

At Farmington Public Schools, we want every student to feel welcome and supported, especially if they are learning English as a new language. Here is how we identify students who may qualify for English Learner (EL) services:

1. Home Language Survey at Registration

When you register your child for school, you’ll fill out a form called the Home Language Survey. This form helps us learn what language your child speaks at home and if English is not their first language. Every family fills this out when enrolling a new student in grades K–12.

2. Language Testing

If your answers on the survey show that your child may need help with English, our English Learner (EL) team will contact you. Then, within 10 school days, your child will take a short test that checks their English skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. This test helps us understand how much support your child might need.

• If your child enrolls between February and March, they will take a test called WIDA ACCESS.
• If your child enrolls any other time of the year, they will take a placement test called the WIDA W-APT.
   

3. Who Qualifies for EL Services

If your child is still learning English (based on the test results), they will be eligible for extra support through our EL program. We provide help during the school day so your child can grow in both English and academic skills.

Students who are already advanced in English (Level 5 or higher) may not need daily EL services, but we still look at other information like classwork and test scores to decide if any extra support is needed.

For any additional questions on this process, please contact Sharon Elvy, Student Support Services secretary at sharon.elvy@fpsk12.net | 248-489-3595