DawnDee Bostwick
DUNCAN — The number of students who are classified as English language learners is increasing, and while officials say they don’t know what’s causing the growth, testing shows the students are having success with the district’s support programs.
Duncan Public Schools reports that the number of English language learners (ELL) has increased 46 percent since 2005. In the same time period, ELL students have met or exceeded No Child Left Behind academic performance indicators, and have shown continual improvement in the policy’s reading category.
Assistant Superintendent of Schools Glenda Cobb said the students’ achievements reflect both instructional practice and individual students’ drive.
“They’re having success in our system,” Cobb said. “Generally speaking, as young students, they’re more motivated to achieve.”
In addition to teacher/student interaction, DPS uses several technology-based systems to help students learn English and overcome the language gap. The programs vary depending on each school’s needs.
Included in computer-based instruction is “My Reading Coach,” a program that doesn’t just teach by showing, but talks to students, adding another level of reinforcement.
“It actually speaks to the student, so they not only see the English language in script, but they hear it spoken to them,” Cobb said. “The key (to learning a language) is time. And what technology allows us to do is provide another layer of time.”
Placement as an ELL student comes only after rigorous testing that is grade-appropriate.
“As they age and mature, expectations are higher,” Cobb said, explaining that a kindergarten student may not be expected to know how to write, but a fourth-grade student would. “There are a lot of reasons why a student might test as lacking proficiency. It could be a lack of skills.”
No matter the reason, once a student is identified as needing help, the school gets to work. The goal, Cobb noted, is to get students not just performing at grade-level, but to help them achieve.
“If they’re here, we want them to be successful,” she said. “If they come to our schools, we serve them.”
