- West Contra Costa Unified School District
- English Learner Programs
English Learner Programs
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English Language Learners, or ELLs, are students who are unable to communicate fluently or learn effectively in English, who often come from non-English-speaking homes and backgrounds, and who typically require specialized or modified instruction in both the English language and in their academic courses. Generally speaking, English Language Learners do not have the English-language ability needed to participate fully in American society, or achieve their full academic potential in schools and learning enviorments.
English Language Learners are not only the fastest-growing segment of the school-age population in the United States, but they are also a tremendously diverse group representing numerous languages, cultures, ethnicities, nationalities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. While most English Language Learners were born in the United States, their parents and grandparents are often immigrants who speak their native language at home.
Students are identified as “English Language Learners” after they complete a formal assessment of their English literacy, during which they are tested in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
In order to help ensure that English learners aquire proficiency in English, and achieve the same rigourous grade-level academic standards that are expected of all students, WCCUSD has the following programs:
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Elementary School Programs
1. Dual Language Immersion
Students will gain:
- Language proficiency in English and the partner language
- Biliteracy and bilingualism in both English and the partner language
- Academic achievement based on grade level standards in English and the partner language
- English Language Development and Academic Language Development (ELD/ALD) 45-minutes daily
- Cross-cultural competence
- Connecting 21st Century College and Career Readiness
- A bridge to the Seal of Biliteracy
2. Structured English Immersion (SEI)
Students will gain:
- Instruction in English
- Fluency in English through content instruction with primary language support
- Develop academic proficiency in English and mastery of academic core content based on CCSS and English Language Development Standards
- English Language Development and Academic Language Development (ELD/ALD) 45-minutes daily
- Designated and Integrated ELD instruction based on ELD Standards
3. Mainstream English Language Classroom
Students will gain:
- Instruction in all content areas in English
- Instruction based on CCSS in English Language Arts and Mathematics, along with other grade level content standards
- Instruction based on district adopted and supplementary materials in English
- Intergrated ELD Instruction throughout the day based on grade level content and ELD standards
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Secondary Schools Programs - Internationals
Internationals Academy
Internationals Network’s vision is to ensure that all recent immigrant students who are English Language Learners have access to a quality school education that prepares them for college, career and full participation in democratic society, thereby opening doors to the American Dream. Internationals Network provides quality public education for recently arrived immigrants by growing and sustaining a strong national network of innovative International Schools, while sharing proven best practices and influencing policy for English Language Learners (ELLs) on a national scale.
Within the network, every teacher is a language teacher as well as a teacher of academic content and skills. Students are organized in diverse clusters that work with the same team of teachers over 1-2 years. Classes are mixed according to age, grade, academic ability, prior schooling, native language, and linguistic proficiency.
In partnership with Internationals Network, the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) and its Multilingual and Multicultural Department opened Internationals Academy at Richmond High School, a program specifically designed to serve recently arrived immigrant and refugee English learners (ELs) and ensure that they reach high-level of academic achievements and complete the requirements to attend college when they graduate from high school.
Contact Us
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English Learner Multilingual Achievement (ELMA Department)
RAP Center - Resources, Assessment, and Placements
1108 Bissell Ave,
Richmond, CA 94801
Phone: (510) 307-4662Esaúl Orozco,
Director of English Learner Multilingual Achievement (ELMA)
Team Directory
Helms Middle School (HIA)
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Helms Middle School
Helms Middle School Internationals Academy is a community that nurtures Newcomer students by providing socio-emotional support, and rigorous authentic curriculum that integrates language into content instruction. Students can continue with the Internationals Academy at Richmond High School.
RIchmond High School (RHS)
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Richmond High School
Richmond Internationals Academy cultivates a supportive, and academically challenging community for recent immigrant youth where students can thrive academically, socially, emotionally, and graduate college and career ready. Students have access to the Career Technical Education Academies: Creative and Performing Arts, Multimedia, Engineering, Health, and Law.
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“Internationals Network is thrilled to begin this new collaboration with WCCUSD and support their ongoing efforts to better serve English learners at Richmond High School.” Joe Luft, Executive Director of Internationals Network, which supports 28 schools and academies nationwide.