Leeward District EL Support

English Learner Program

Our Program

Program Description

The Hawaii Department of Education statewide ENGLISH LEARNER (EL) Program helps to ensure equal access to educational opportunities for linguistically and culturally diverse students. The EL Program supports HIDOE’s mission to provide standards-based education through supplementary instructional and acculturation activities.

Instructional Focus

The primary instructional focus is to help students make a smooth transition to the regular education classroom. Curriculum and instruction must provide students with opportunities to develop language skills.

English Learner (EL) Program Goals

The EL Program strives to:

Provide meaningful access to educational opportunities and academic content by providing services that assist students with developing English language proficiency.
Support students in attaining the same State academic content and student achievement standards expected for all students.
Ensure students graduate with language, knowledge and skills to pursue post-secondary education and careers.
Develop an understanding of and appreciation for diverse cultures.
Engage parents and families in the education of their children.

The Four Instructional Settings

There are four basic instructional settings for providing EL Program services. Schools may use one or a combination of the following settings to meet students’ needs:

Inclusionary Support

(Intervention or Team Taught Class)

This setting is one in which EL Program students are grouped for instruction within the regular classroom. The regular teacher and EL Program staff plan and work together to deliver services. In the intervention class, the regular education curriculum is adapted to meet the needs of EL Program students. The EL student’s language development needs are supported.

Self-contained Class

A self-contained class is appropriate when there is a concentration of Non-English Proficient (NEP) students. It is often found in secondary school settings as an elective (such as ESOL) or a required credit course (such as English and Social Studies), where there is a high concentration of EL Program students.

Pull-out (Tutorial or Learning Center)

In this setting, the EL Program teachers pull students out of their regular classroom for individual or small group instruction. Students then receive supplemental intensive language instruction. Pull-out may also be used in addition to the intervention setting to provide NEP students with targeted assistance in a more controlled setting.

Newcomer Center

A newcomer center provides a transitional program for a high concentration of newly-arrived students with similar needs, in preparation for mainstream schooling. Instruction for newly arrived immigrant students focuses on a modified version of the core curriculum, intensive English language instruction, and an orientation to the school and community. Often native language assistance is provided.