Bilingual education: An approach which utilizes the students' native language (e.g., French, Passamaquoddy, Spanish...) and cultural factors in instructing these students in their academic subjects. English as a second language is a separate component of this approach.
Dropout: An individual who was enrolled in 2000-2001 school year but is not presently enrolled or was not enrolled on October 1, 2002, but was expected to be enrolled and has not graduated from high school or completed a state or school approval education program and does not meet any of these exclusionary conditions: transfer to another school or other approved education program; absent due to suspension or school-approved illness; death.
English language proficiency assessment: Use of a multiple-criteria assessment device to determine the extent to which a student is fluent in English in the areas of speaking, listening, reading, or writing.
English as a second language (ESL): A structured language acquisition approach designed to teach English to students whose native language is not English. In low-incidence situations, this instruction may occur through "pull-out" from regular English literacy instruction but with added support in academic subjects, and these students are submersed in mainstream subject areas for most of the school day. Monitoring student performance in academic subject areas is part of an ESL support system. Services are overseen by a certified teacher endorsed in ESL.
ESL tutorial pullout: Students whose native language is not English receive one-on-one or very small group instruction in English. Services are provided by personnel not credentialed in ESL.
Full-time equivalent (FTE): The percentage of time that the services provider is paid in comparison to a full-time position (e.g., full-time = 1.0; half-time = .50; 25% time = .25).
Limited English proficient (LEP): A reference to students whose primary or native language is not English and who have difficulty in using English (i.e., reading, writing, speaking, listening) that the opportunity to participate effectively in school may be denied when English is the exclusive language of instruction. Such students require ESL and/or bilingual education services. Some LEP students may have exited an ESL program but are monitored in academic areas for occasional ESL intervention; those students are also classified as LEP.
Maine endorsement in bilingual education: Required of certified teachers in bilingual education, K-12 who teach content subjects in non-English languages (24 credit hours in B.E.; 24 credit hours for professional certificate).
Maine endorsement in ESL: Required of certified teachers of ESL, K-12 (15 credit hours in ESL in separate cluster areas; 24 credit hours for professional certificate).
Refugee: One who has fled the native country
(e.g., Kosovo, Ethiopia, Somalia, Iraq…) usually for political asylum based on
a well-founded fear of political persecution and/or family safety. Documentation of refugee or “resident alien”
status is granted by the U.S. Immigration
and Naturalization Services.
SDAIE (Specially Designed Academic Instruction in English): An approach that utilizes the simplification of the English language to teach ESL and subject area content at the same time (also called "content ESL" or “sheltered English”). Actual content is the same as that taught to non-LEP students.
Submersion: An approach which is sometimes referred to as “sink or swim” involves no ESL or other language support intervention needed for students of limited English proficiency. It is a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to place a LEP student in a submersion situation.
45