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District

English Learner Programs

 

English Learner Services oversees all TK-12 English Learner programs. San Rafael City Schools has the privilege and responsibility of ensuring that all multilingual students in our district become proficient in English and master the academic content required of every student in California.

The goal for all English Learners (ELs) is to become proficient in English and grade-level standards in all subjects.

English Learners are provided instructional support as they acquire English fluency while mastering grade-level standards. These instructional supports include:

  • Designated English Language Development (ELD) standards-based lessons differentiated by the students’ language levels in order to support each EL student as they develop English language proficiency as rapidly and efficiently as possible.

  • Integrated ELD instructional strategies at every grade and across all subjects to ensure that the content of each lesson is understandable to EL students so that they are provided access to grade-level standards regardless of the student’s English proficiency level.

 

Collage art of three kids reaching to the sky

Contact Us

Cecilia Quintana Pérez

Assistant Superintendent

cperez@srcs.org

415-492-3143 *Se habla español


Pepe Gonzalez

Director of Community Partnerships

pgonzalez@srcs.org

415-492-3137 *Se habla español


Lori Owens

Accountability Coordinator/Homeless and Foster Youth Liaison

lowens@srcs.org

415-492-3589


Karla Rico

Community Engagement Specialist

krico@srcs.org

415-492-3590 *Se habla español


Katherine Reyes

Senior Administrative Assistant

kreyes@srcs.org

415-492-3222 *Se habla español

 

  • The purpose of the English Learner Master Plan is to provide guidance to administrators, teachers, students, and families regarding the options offered to emerging bilingual students, also known as English Language Learner (EL) students, who attend SRCS.

    El propósito del Plan Maestro para Aprendices (Estudiantes) de Inglés es brindar orientación a los administradores, maestros, estudiantes y familias con respecto a las opciones que se ofrecen a los estudiantes aprendices de inglés (EL) que asisten a nuestras escuelas. 

    ENGLISH MASTER PLAN

    PLAN MAESTRO PARA APRENDICES DE INGLES

  •  District English Learner Advisory Committee
    Comité Distrital para Aprendices del Idioma Inglés

    Each California public school district, grades kindergarten through 12, with 51 or more English learners must form a District-level English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC) or subcommittee of an existing district-wide advisory committee.

    The purpose of the DELAC is to advise the District's local governing board on programs and services for English learners to improve our English learners’ acquisition of English and to help our students achieve academic success.

    Cada distrito escolar público de California, desde jardín de infantes hasta 12º grado, con 51 o más estudiantes de inglés debe formar un Comité Consejero del Distrito de Estudiantes Aprendices de Inglés a nivel de Distrito (DELAC) o un subcomité de un comité asesor existente en todo el distrito.

    El propósito del DELAC es informar a la Mesa Directiva del Distrito Escolar sobre programas y servicios para estudiantes aprendices de inglés y mejorar la adquisición de inglés de nuestros estudiantes para que ellos pueden alcanzar el éxito académico.


    DELAC Meetings/Reuniones de DELAC

    2024-2025

     All meetings are held online via Zoom

    DELAC Meetings and Topics/Fechas y temas de las reuniones del DELAC 


    • September 12, 2024      Agenda  |  Minutes | Presentation
    • October 10, 2024          Agenda  |  Minutes | Presentation
    • November 14, 2024      Agenda  |  Minutes | Presentation  
    • January 9, 2025            Agenda  |  Minutes | Presentation
    • February 13, 2024        Agenda  |  Minutes | Presentation
    • March TBD                 SRCS Reclassification Ceremony
    • April 17, 2025               Agenda  |  Minutes | Presentation
    • May 8, 2025                  Agenda  |  Minutes | Presentation
  • Reclassification is the process whereby a student is reclassified from English learner (EL) status to fluent English proficient (RFEP) status. Reclassification can take place at any time during the academic year. San Rafael City Schools has developed student reclassification processes based on criteria set forth by California Department of Education (CDE) guidelines. Students initially identified as English Learners (ELs) are reclassified to fluent English proficient when they meet each of the following criteria:

    1. ELPAC: Assessment of English Language Proficiency (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing). 
    2. Student demonstrates proficiency in basic skills as measured by district benchmarks and/or standardized assessments (ex: F&P Reading Benchmark, Reading Inventory, SBAC) 
    3. Teacher Evaluation of Student's Academic Performance
    4. Parent/Guardian Consultation

    San Rafael City Schools Reclassification Criteria

    *English Learner with Documented Disabilities:  Individualized reclassification through the IEP is available for dual identified pupils with significant disabilities.


    La reclasificación es el proceso mediante el cual un estudiante es reclasificado del estado de aprendiz de inglés (EL) al estado de dominio fluido del inglés (RFEP). La reclasificación puede ocurrir en cualquier momento durante el año académico. Las Escuelas de la Ciudad de San Rafael han desarrollado procesos de reclasificación de estudiantes basados ​​en los criterios establecidos por el Departamento de Educación de California (CDE). Los estudiantes inicialmente identificados como aprendices de inglés (EL, por sus siglas en inglés) son reclasificados como competentes en inglés con fluidez cuando cumplen con los siguientes criterios:

    1. ELPAC: Evaluación del dominio del idioma inglés (comprensión auditiva, expresión oral, lectura y escritura).

    2. El estudiante demuestra competencia en las habilidades básicas según lo medido por los puntos de referencia del distrito y/o evaluaciones estandarizadas (por ejemplo, F&P Reading Benchmark, Reading Inventory, SBAC)

    3. Evaluación del maestro del desempeño académico del estudiante

    4. Consulta con el padre / tutor

    Criterios de reclasificación de las escuelas de la ciudad de San Rafael


    * Aprendiz de inglés con discapacidades documentadas: La reclasificación individualizada a través del IEP está disponible para alumnos con doble identificación y discapacidades significativas.

  • The ELPAC (English Language Proficiency Assessment for California) is the required state test for English language proficiency (ELP) that must be given to students whose primary language is a language other than English. State and federal law require that local educational agencies administer a state test of ELP to eligible students in kindergarten through grade twelve.  The ELPAC is aligned with the 2012 California English Language Development Standards. It consists of two separate ELP assessments: one for the initial identification of students as English learners (ELs), and a second for the annual summative assessment to measure a student’s progress in learning English and to identify the student's level of ELP.

    INITIAL ELPAC FACT SHEET      SUMMATIVE ELPAC FACT SHEET

 

SEAL (Sobrato Early Academic Language Program) - Idealist

Sobrato Early Academic Language (SEAL) Model

SEAL is a PreK through 6th grade program of the Sobrato Family Foundation.  It is designed to build the capacity of schools to powerfully develop the language and literacy skills of young English Learner children, and to close the achievement gap. SEAL is also a model of language-rich, joyful and rigorous education for all children. In partnership with the Sobrato Foundation, the teachers of San Rafael participate in an intense, multi-year professional development program.  At the end of their training, teachers are able to develop rich, powerful language and literacy in all students within the context of delivering a full academic curriculum.

SEAL Video

 

EL ROADMAP POLICY - THE FOUR PRINCIPLES

Have you heard about California's new English Learner Roadmap Policy?

This video provides an overview of the vision, mission, and four key principles of the California EL Roadmap Policy approved in July, 2017 by the California State Board of Education. This is the second of a three part series narrated by Dr. Laurie Olsen, co-chair of the EL Roadmap Taskforce. The EL Roadmap Taskforce was convened by former Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson, members of the California Department of Education, and also co-chaired by Dr. Kenji Hakuta. 

Video Link to the California EL Roadmap Policy - The Four Principles

  • Parents may request that their children be exempted from a specific instructional setting (CCR, Title 5, section 11301 (b)). However, districts still have an obligation to ensure that students receive ELD and access to other core content areas from teachers who are qualified to provide such instruction (Castañeda v. Pickard, 1981).

  • Yes. California Education Code 52164.1 states that a parent may amend the Home Language Survey if they believe there is an error. If a language other than English was inaccurately indicated on the Home Language Survey (HLS), a parent/guardian may update the HLS to accurately reflect the language(s) spoken in the home. This can only be done once and it MUST be done before ELPAC Initial testing. For more information, click here.

  • The parent/guardian of an EL need only request this placement. This does not entail going through the waiver process (CCR, Title 5, sections 11301[b]).