English Learner Education

The ELE program provides instruction in English language development for eligible multilingual learners. There are currently three English language education program options in Massachusetts. All three program options include instruction in English for speakers of other languages (ESOL). Sheltered English Immersion is the only program option that is offered in Hopkinton Public Schools at this time.

1. Sheltered English Immersion (SEI): SEI programming includes sheltered content instruction, delivered in the classroom by SEI endorsed classroom/content teachers.

2. Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE): TBE programming includes core content instruction in a language other than English, which is phased out over time in favor of core content instruction in English. TBE programs can be initiated at any grade level.

3. Two-Way Immersion (TWI): TWI programming includes core content instruction in English and in a language other than English to promote bilingualism. TWI programs must begin in PreK/K and may continue through the secondary level.

While the ELE Department office is located at Central Office, there are nine ESOL classrooms located throughout the five schools in the district.  English language development occurs in all content classrooms throughout the district for multilingual learner students in the ELE program, as well as through specialized small group instruction in the ESoL classroom for students in grades 1-12. 

ESOL classes are included as part of the regular school day for students in the ELE program.  All ESOL classes are instructed by teachers who are licensed to teach English to multilingual learners.  

• In preschool and kindergarten, ESOL teachers join content classrooms multiple times per week to instruct multilingual learners in the ELE program within the classroom environment.

• In grades 1-5, ESOL teachers instruct multilingual learners of similar English language development levels in small groups during the school day at the same time as English language arts instruction is occurring in the content classroom. Thus, ESOL instruction for multilingual learners will coordinate with classroom content instruction so that students will have the benefit of both English language development and English content instruction.

• In grades 6-12, ESOL will be a regularly occurring course in the schedule of a multilingual learner student in the ELE program. 

The ELE program in Hopkinton Public Schools recognizes the benefits of multilingualism and the many assets of our multilingual learner student population. ELE program eligibility is not based on academic performance; rather the ELE program celebrates students who use a language other than English and works with these students to effectively access the English language needed to perform successfully in content area classes. As the English language skills used for classroom success can be very different from those used for social or home interactions, the ELE program works toward English language skills in both these areas.

To be eligible for the ELE program, a student must-

1. have regular exposure to a language other than English in the home or with a caregiver, as identified through the home language survey completed at the time of registration  - AND -

2. meet a qualifying score on an assessment of English language proficiency, legally required to be given to all students whose parents/guardians identify a language other than English on the home language survey.

To exit the ELE program, a student must-

1. meet a qualifying score on WIDA’s ACCESS for ELLs (standardized test) of English language proficiency, administered annually in January-February -AND-

2. demonstrate the ability to perform grade-level classwork successfully in English.

• More than 50 different languages are currently used by students in Hopkinton Public Schools.  

• The most frequently used home language among students in the ELE program is English.

• Students in the ELE program use 36 different languages in addition to English.

• The top 5 languages, other than English, used by students in the ELE program are Telugu, Chinese, Hindi, Spanish, and Russian.

• Approximately two-thirds of the students in the ELE program were born in the United States.