Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
An Official Pennsylvania Government Website
Translate
Begin Main Content Area

​Students Eligible for English Learning Services

The education of students whose dominant language is not English is the responsibility of the LEA. Regulations require the LEA to provide a program for every student who is an English Learner (EL).  22 Pa. Code § 4.26. 

The sending LEA maintains the ultimate responsibility for ensuring that EL students in AEDY Programs receive EL services and education that conforms to federal and state law.

AEDY Programs must comply with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to the education of students identified as EL.  ELs are entitled to equal access to the general education curriculum via modifications and adaptations to and accommodations for instruction and assessments as well as planned instruction in English language development. Beginning on July 1, 2019, LEAs must certify to PDE in the online application that ELs in AEDY Programs are provided with services in accordance with federal and state laws and regulations.

When an EL is educated in an AEDY Program, he/she must:

  1. Receive a 45-day Presumptive Exit Date,
  2. Receive planned English language development instruction by a certified ESL/Bilingual Education teacher (Program Specialist ESL Certification), and
  3. Receive adaptations/modifications in the delivery of content instruction and assessments by all teachers based on the student's language proficiency levels and the Pennsylvania English Language Development Standards (PA ELDS) Framework for ELs as well as the Pennsylvania Academic Standards.

When an EL is educated in an AEDY Program, the sending LEA must:

  1. Provide PDE with a copy of their EL Service Plan if the AEDY Program is providing the EL instruction.
  2. LEAs are responsible to ensure AEDY Programs have plans that give due consideration to the following requirements and program recommendations: 
​Requirements
​Program
​Plan
  1. ​Identification of ELs
​Follow the PDE English Learner Identification Procedures grades K-12 (PDF)
​
  1. ​Assessment of ELs
    • Determine need for instruction
    • Place in appropriate program of instruction
Follow the PDE English Learner Identification Procedures grades K-12 (PDF) and identify the process in the plan
  • Appropriate state-mandated screening test (Kindergarten W-APT and WIDA Screener for Grade 1-12)
  • Multiple criteria for placement/exemption (Step 4, p. 3)
  • Identify home language proficiency if applicable (p. 5)
  • Investigate prior schooling experience to identify students with limited or interrupted formal education (LIFE) on p. 6
​
  1. Provide Instruction
    • Direct, appropriate, sufficient
    • Designed for students' needs
    • Based on current practices
    • Appropriate staffing
    • Appropriate materials​
​Develop Instructional Plan
Identify the program model (p. 11-13) Refer to ESL Guide for Administ​rators​
​
  1. Ensure integration
    • Instructional integration
    • Social integration​
  • ​Describe access to programs and services (Gifted, Extra Curricular, Special Education, Vocational, etc.)
  • Ensure scaffolding based on English language proficiency levels 
  • Integrate ELs with same-age peers
​
  1. Ensure that parents/guardians are provided with translation and interpretation services.

When an EL is educated in an AEDY Program, the provider must:

  1. Provide PDE with a copy of their individual EL Service Plan if they are providing the EL instruction.
  2. Ensure that parents/guardians are provided with translation and interpretation services.