ESL

The general objective of the Bilingual Education (BE)/English as a Second Language(ESL) department is to ensure that language learners achieve English proficiency through academic opportunities with a research-based foundation. The learners’ background, culture and learning styles are all taken into consideration.

At Universal Academy, all children are provided diverse educational opportunities and are exposed to a rigorous cirriculum that challenges the student.Through staff development the teachers learn how to better accommodate and differentiate for the language learner; in turn, this approach creates in the student the necessary self-confidence to take risk and use a higher level of thinking. The use of this type of instructional delivery in the classroom is the reason the learners exit the BE or ESL program at the elementary or middle school level. It ensures a smooth transition to an English only environment. The BE/ESL students participate in all district-wide and individual  activities that expose them to different educational and cultural experiences.

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) requires that Title III funded districts and charter schools meet the Annual Measurable Objectives (AMAO’s) that requires that Limited English Proficient (LEP) students make measurable progress in attaining English proficiency.