English Learner Program - ELP

Battlefield High School English Learner Program Overview

The English Learner Program (ELP) at Battlefield High School is content-driven. The courses available to students for whom English is a second or third language focus on English Learners' proficiency in reading, writing, speaking and listening, as well as their content knowledge and use of study, test-taking, research and technology skills. Limited English Proficient (LEP) students, level 1 to level 4, including those who are also considered English Learners with Disabilities (EL SWD) receive direct instruction in English and academic content to develop their language competency and meet academic content standards in order to fulfill the county and state graduation requirements. English Learners who are level 6, and those students who have opted out of the program, take mainstream classes and are not federally required to receive any direct instruction from the ELP staff; some however, do continue to receive content and English language support as necessary. Their progress is monitored and their proficiency level is evaluated every spring to determine proper placement and/or re-entry into the program.

Aside from the self-contained English for Academic Purposes, English Language Development 9 for English 9, English Language Development 10 for English 10, English Language Development 11 for English 11, Academic Literacy, Survey of World History, General Science and Algebra Readiness courses currently in place, Battlefield also offers several sheltered and co-taught courses, including: English 9, English 10, English 11, Algebra 1,Geometry, World History I, US/VA History, US/VA Government, Earth Science and Biology. These courses are taught by mainstream content area teachers and ESOL certified teachers, by ESOL teachers with certification in the content areas of English/language arts, math, science or history, or by content teachers trained in EL techniques and knowledge of second language acquisition research and instructional strategies.

All English Learners (ELs) at Battlefield are welcome to take advantage of after school tutoring sessions on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, or at the discretion of the two full-time ESOL teachers on staff, and the content area teachers trained in EL techniques, as well as sessions with fellow peers who are members of several content and language honor societies. Battlefield's English Learner Program (ELP) team works closely with everyone on staff to ensure that all English Learners (EL) have a positive, welcome and successful academic school year!