Jesus Escarcega, ELA Coordinator
303-347-3448

Littleton Public Schools (LPS) serves approximately 800 English Language Learners (ELL), grades K-12.  Fifty-eight percent (58%) of the ELL students come from Spanish speaking backgrounds.  The instructional focus is intensive, structured English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction.  Certificated, state endorsed ESL teachers work with students in small groups, classroom inclusion, team teaching, and individual instruction with an emphasis on English listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills taught through content area subjects.

During the 2006-2007 school year, LPS identified students speaking more than 43 different languages.  ESL services are provided at both neighborhood schools and center/magnet schools. Neighborhood school programs are at Goddard Middle School and Field Elementary School.  Both schools have excellent, well-trained personnel and programs that meet the linguistic needs of their ELL students.

East Elementary, Newton Middle School and Littleton High School serve as center ESL schools for the remainder of the district.  Students attending these magnet schools are transported to the center school at district expense by means of district schools buses.  They are staffed with professional, well-trained ESL personnel and programs.

There are approximately 200 ELL students throughout the district whose parents have requested that they remain at their home schools and not be transported to East, Newton, or Littleton High School.  These students continue to have unique linguistic and academic needs.  District and individual school resources are available to address these needs.

East Elementary ESL Program:  The ESL program at East is a comprehensive English immersion program.  Development of the four English language arts areas, listening, speaking, reading, and writing is emphasized.  All students read in small, guided reading groups at their level. ESL program students receive additional small group instruction in English language skills and development with the ESL staff using both a pull-out and in-class model with an emphasis on content area learning.  One unique aspect of the East program is the inclusion of a full day kindergarten class for all kindergarten students.  This allows time for intensive English language instruction and practice of pre-literacy skills.  100% of East Elementary's ELL 2005-2006 third grade students who had been enrolled at East since Kindergarten were proficient on 3rd grade CSAP English reading.The ESL staff collaborate closely with Newton Middle School staff to articulate services for the needs of transitioning 5th grade ELL students.

Field Elementary ESL and International Baccalaureate Program:  The ESL program is a vital component of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.  One IB goal is that all students are to be proficient in reading, writing, and speaking two languages.  The 2006-2007 school year saw 39% of Field students, K-5, studying English as their second language.  Students whose oral Spanish language skills are strong are provided literacy instruction in Spanish.  The ESL program at Field Elementary maintains the two-fold mission of:  (1) supporting student instruction in the area of content learning in the regular classroom, and (2) providing instensive small group English language sessions for mastery of English language skills.  Field Elemetnary also provides a full-day kindergarten class for all kindergarten students.  Field ESL staff collaborate closely with Goddard Middle School to articulate services for the needs of transitioning 5th grade ELL students.

Goddard Middle School and Newton Middle School ESL Programs:  ELL students in middle school ESL programs are assigned to regular core classes and are scheduled into ESL classes based on their individual levels of English language proficiency.  Non-speakers may be placed for three of their daily class sessions in the ESL classroom for intensive English learning.  Those students who are close to developing strong English proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking may only meet with the ESL staff for one class session a day to perfect their writing and content area skills.  The ESL Program at the middle level is highly interactive with an empahsis on English language conventions in a technology-rich and content area based program.  In-class support for content area classes such as math and science is also provided.  The middle school program includes sensitivity to the needs of adolescents to participate in all-school and after-school activities.

Littleton High School ESL Senior High Program:  ELL students are scheduled into ESL classes from three periods daily to twice weekly depending on individual student's needs.  Content area courses for ELL students such as World History are taught by an ESL-endorsed teacher who is also high qualified to teach history. Courses are designed to meet students' linguistic and cultural needs.  Activities emphasize the use of technology, development of independent study skills, and the acquisition of written language skills through the use of journals, research projects, and the study of English conventions.  ELL students are expected to meet the same graduation requirements in all subjects as do all Littleton High graduates.  Summer school support is available to assist ELL students extend their study time to meet credit and graduation requirements.  Using many visual and tangible aids, students work to increase their knowledge of and ability to use English at a high skill level in reading, writing, listening and speaking.  Computers are used by all ELL students to access curriculum content area information throughout the school.