English Language Learners Program
The English Language Learners (ELL) Program in our schools is designed to support students who enter with varying degrees OF proficiency with the English language. Shortly after beginning school, students are assessed to see who may qualify for the program. This assessment determines a student's level of language and linguistic needs.
All English Language Learners receive specialized instruction with the goal of helping them master English as quickly as possible. Instruction integrates the content of the mainstream curriculum to make the learning meaningful and useful to students. Instruction is personalized to fit the needs of each learner.
Historically, there have been between 50 and 80 English Language Learners in our schools overall. This number has been slowly increasing in the past few years. There is turnover in the program each year as new students enter and others depart.
Title I/Federal Support Programs
As with most public school districts in Massachusetts, Concord Public Schools and Concord Carlisle Regional School District participate in the Federal Support Program, “Title I.” Below is a description of the program from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education:
Title I, Part A (Title I) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended, provides financial assistance to districts and schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards. Federal funds are currently allocated through statutory formulas that are based primarily on census poverty estimates and the cost of education in each state. Title I, Part D is a program that provides funds to improve educational services for children and youth in local and state institutions for neglected or delinquent children. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) also provides subgrants using state and federal funds to districts for the purpose of providing assistance for district and school improvement.