Address

14 Maple Street
P.O. Box 841
Belchertown MA 01007

Phone

413-323-0423

English Language Education and Translation Services

Home 5 English Language Education and Translation Services

By law, as stated in M.G.L. 71A Section 3, the Belchertown Public School district is required to assess all students new to our district who are not proficient in English. A student who does not speak English or whose native language is not English and who is currently not able to perform classroom work in English is also called an English Language Learner (ELL).

Upon enrollment of each student in the district, their family is required to complete the Home Language Survey to inform the district of the language(s) spoken in the student’s home.  If the survey indicates a language other than English is spoken by the student and/or family, the district is required to assess the student’s English proficiency.  If this is deemed necessary, the ELL teacher will utilize the Language Assessment System Links (LAS Links) to measure the student’s language knowledge and skills important to achieving success in content learning. The results of this assessment provide the district with information about the student’s level of proficiency using the English language. The results from this assessment will be used to determine if the student requires ELL services with the ELL teacher.

Once a student is identified as an ELL, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requires each school district to annually measure the student’s proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking English, as well as the progress he/she is making in learning English. Starting in January 2013, Massachusetts replaced the MEPA test previously used with the Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State (ACCESS) for ELLs test. ACCESS for ELLs is an assessment that will be administered once annually during January and February of each school year.  ACCESS for ELLs tests are based on the WIDA (World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment) English Language Development standards. The information from this testing will be made available to families as soon as the district receives the results.

The Belchertown Public School district strives to make all pertinent information for families of ELL students available in their home language whenever possible.  When requested or listed on Home Language Surveys, interpreters are made available for parents to actively participate in meetings and other school related events as needed. Any questions or concerns regarding ELL or Translation services should be forwarded to Rebecca Lynch, M.Ed., Director of Student Support Services. Ms. Rebecca Lynch can be reached at (413) 323-0423 x112 or rlynch@belchertownps.org.

Catherine Collette, ELL Teacher, 413-323-0471 x303, ccollette@belchertownps.org

Timothy Binkert, ELL Teacher, 413-323-9419 x2234, tbinkert@belchrtownps.org

For more information about English Language Education and Translation Services, please click the links below.

Home Language Survey

National Education Association English Language Learners

RETELL

Press Release – Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of Belchertown Public School

Press Release info:

During the week of February 7, 2022 the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE’s) Office of Language Acquisition will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of Belchertown Public Schools. The Office of Language Acquisition reviews each district’s and charter school’s ELE program every six years to monitor compliance with federal and state English learner education laws and regulations. Areas of review will include English learners’ student assessments, identification of English learners; what programs English learners are placed in, parent and community involvement, curriculum and instruction, student support services, licensure requirements for faculty, staff and administration, program plans, and evaluation and recordkeeping.

In addition to the onsite visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The review chairperson from the Office of Language Acquisition will send a survey to the parents of students whose records the review team examines. The survey focuses on key areas of their child’s English learner education program. Survey results will contribute to the monitoring report.

Parents and other individuals may call Judith Maloire, Office of Language Acquisition Review Chairperson, at (781) 338-3569 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, DESE will make the necessary arrangements.

Within approximately 60 business days of the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the (district or charter school) with a report with information about areas in which the (district or charter school) meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which the (district or charter school) requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The report will be available to the public at https://www.doe.mass.edu/ele/cpr/.

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