Academic » English Learners

English Learners

The English Learner programs at Palms Middle School are based on the programs and policies of the LAUSD Multilingual and Multicultural Education Department. The goals of these programs are to:

  • Provide appropriate services to students for whom English is not a native language.
  • Help English Learners meet performance criteria to reach full proficiency in English within 5 years.
  • Help all students, including English Learners, participate fully in college-preparatory (A-G) courses and graduate from high school ready for college and careers.
  • Provide full access to programs for gifted and talented students or students with disabilities, regardless of language status.

Moving from English Leaner (EL) status to English Proficiency (EP) status is called reclassification and reflects a student's readiness to succeed academically without English language development (ELD) support.

Five LAUSD EL programs are available, as shown in the chart below. Counselors and parents work together to identify the best program for each student. Annual evaluations, including the California English Language Development Test and Standards-based Test in Spanish, assess each student's progress toward EP on a scale from ELD 1 to ELD 5. English Language Development Intervention classes are available for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students requiring additional assistance. The English Learner program is directed by the English Learners (EL) Coordinator and the English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC).

English learner programs

Instructional program

Taught in

For these students

Notable feature

Secondary English Learner Newcomer Program

English

EL students who have been enrolled in U.S. schools for fewer than 2 years and are beginning to learn English

Help learning U.S. school culture

Accelerated Learning Program for Long Term English Learners (LTEL)

English

Students who have been EL for 5 years or more and have not yet been reclassified as EP

Accelerated instruction and socio-emotional support toward reclassification as EP

Dual Language Two-Way Immersion Program

English and the student's primary language

EL and EP students who were in dual-language programs in grades K-6

2 or 3 periods each day taught in the primary language

Mainstream English Program

English

EL and English proficient students with reasonable fluency

An emphasis on academic English

Structured English Immersion (SEI) Program

English

Students beginning to learn English

Academics taught in English with primary language only as needed