English Learner Education

Introduction

The purpose of this webpage is to provide important information and links to resources that support all educators in providing instruction and services to English Learners (ELs) across the content areas.

Divisions across the Commonwealth of Virginia serve over 117000 ELs, who speak over 240 languages, and come from a variety of learning and cultural backgrounds. These students bring a unique set of assets that have the potential to enrich the experiences of all learners and educators.

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) works for the embodiment of an asset-based approach to educating ELs that honors their primary languages, background knowledge, and experiences.

News & Announcements

Resources Available

Find EL instruction resources on #GoOpenVA! There is a specific group for English Learner Educators.

Sign up to stay informed about new, general education-instructional resources, professional development, grant opportunities, and other information of interest to educators and families with TeacherDirect.

English Learner Newsletter

Sign-up to receive EL specific news, announcements, professional learning opportunities, and promising practices with a monthly newsletter from the Coordinator of English Learner Instruction.

Instructional Standards

WIDA English Language Development (ELD) Standards

(Virginia joined the WIDA Consortium in 2008)

• WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework, 2020 Edition: Kindergarten-Grade 12 (PDF)

Additional WIDA Resources

• ACCESS for ELLs Sample Items
• Can Do Philosophy
• Guiding Principles for Language Development List and an Illustrated Version

Virginia Standards of Learning

• Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL)

Professional Development, Professional Standards, and Licensure Information

Professional Development

• WIDA self-paced eWorkshops (Word) - Learn how to request free access as a Virginia educator; Modules are available anytime.
• Ed.D. in TESOL and Bilingual Education Programs- Information about TESOL Ed.D. programs across the United States

Virginia-Based Organizations with Annual Conferences

• Virginia Association for Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (VATESOL)
• Virginia ESL Supervisors' Association (VESA)

Professional Standards and Principles

• Virginia Standards for the Professional Practice of Teachers: Teachers of English as a Second Language (pages 23-26) (PDF)
• TESOL’s Six Principles for Exemplary Teaching of English Leaners

Licensure and Endorsement Information

• English as a Second Language Prek-12 Endorsement requirements (Administrative Code)
• Obtain Initial Teaching Licensure or Earn a degree with a focus on TESOL
  • Approved Teacher Education Programs (All content areas)(Word)
• Add an ESL endorsement to an existing Virginia Teaching License by taking the Praxis English to Speakers of Other Languages Test (Word)
  • PRAXIS II Study Companion: English to Speakers of Other Languages (ETS)This link takes you out of the Virginia Department of Education website (PDF)

VDOE Documents & Resources

Distance Learning Related Resources 

• Designing Remote Learning for English Learners (Word)

Cross-Curricular EL Instruction

• Language Instruction Educational Program (LIEP) Models in Virginia (Word) – Chart with program models and descriptions
• EL Teacher Toolkit (Word) (includes Lesson Planning considerations, Scholar Sheets with examples of academic language sentence frames, lists of supports, "I can" statements for students, and Instructional Considerations by proficiency level)
• Professional Development Pathways (Word) – Document with links to a variety of topics and resources to support any educator working with an EL
• Supporting Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Schooling (SLIFE) Guidebook (PDF) - Information about identifying SLIFE and for providing equitable opportunities and support
• Supporting ELs with Suspected or Identified Disabilities:
  • Handbook for Educators of English Learners with Suspected Disabilities (Word) |Handbook for Educators of English Learners with Suspected Disabilities (PDF)
  • Comprehensive System of Supports for English Learners with Disabilities (ELWD) (PDF)
  • Supporting Rigorous Learning for English Learners with Disabilities (ELWD) (PDF)
  • Supporting English Language Learners - Differentiating Language Differences from Suspected Disabilities (PDF)
  • Understanding Disability Categories and Differentiation Ideas for English Learners with Disabilities (ELWD) (PDF)
• Social-Emotional Wellness- Considerations for English Learners Quick Guide (PDF)
• Teaching Content to ELs (PPT)

Dual Language

• Dual Language Immersion: Supporting K-12 Implementation in Virginia- Resource guide (PDF)
• Seal of Biliteracy

Specific-Content Area EL Instruction

• English, Reading, & Literacy
  • Academic Language: ELs in the English  Classroom Webinar, Presentation (PPT), and Summary (Word)
  • Planning and Preparing Literacy Instruction Infographic (Word)
  • Serving ELs Who Need Additional Reading Support Infographic (Word)
• Fine Arts
  • Infographics
    • Dance (Word)
    • Music (Word)
    • Theatre (Word)
    • Visual Arts
  • Supporting ELs in Fine Arts PowerPoint (PPT)

• Mathematics
  • Mathematics Instructional Enhancements for Diverse Learners Infographic (Word) and References List (Word)
• History Social Sciences
  • History and Social Sciences Strategies for Supporting English Leaners Infographic (Word)
• Science
  • Science Instructional Enhancements and Equity for Diverse Learners Infographic (Word)
• World Language
  • Culturally Responsive World Language Instruction PowerPoint  (PPT)

Policy

Policy Guidance from the US Department of Education and the VDOE

• Dear Colleague Letter for ELs (PDF) – Joint guidance from the Office of Civil Right and the Department of Justice
• Title III VDOE Web page: Language Instruction For English Learners & Immigrant Students – Information and links to important Virginia and Federal Guidance

Assessment

• Virginia English Language Proficiency Assessments VDOE Web page – Information and links about ACCESS for ELLs, and other tests used in VA to measure language progress and proficiency
• Procedures for Determining English Learner Participation in the Virginia Assessment Program (Word)