ENL

English as a New Language (ENL) Education at Shen (K-12)

The K-12 English as a New Language (ENL) program at Shenendehowa is designed to help your child develop English proficiency while keeping up with grade-level learning. When your child enrolls in school, you will complete a Home Language Questionnaire (HLQ), followed by an informal interview with school staff. If a language other than English is spoken at home, your child will take the New York State Identification Test for English Language Learners (NYSITELL) to determine if they qualify for ENL services.

Following state regulations (CR Part 154), the program provides two types of support: Stand-Alone ENL, where a certified ENL teacher focuses on building your child’s English skills, and Integrated ENL, where an ENL teacher works alongside a classroom teacher to support learning in subjects like reading, math, science, and social studies. Schools value your child’s home language as an asset and encourage its use as a tool for learning. The program also includes research-backed literacy strategies, ensuring your child has meaningful opportunities to practice speaking, reading, and writing in English.

Each spring, your child will take the New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test (NYSESLAT) to assess their progress in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in English. Once they reach the Commanding level, they will exit the ENL program but continue to receive language support for two additional years.

As a parent, you play a key role in your child’s success. Schools provide resources, workshops, and community support to help you stay involved in their education. The goal is to ensure your child thrives academically while developing strong bilingual skills.
 

Parent Bill of Rights   

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