Quick Reference Guides (requires Acrobat Reader to view this file which is free)

 ESL Program Component Flowchart

 ESL/Special Ed. Referral Flowchart

ESL Definitions and Acronyms

 Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills (BICS) Basic communication skills that can be acquired in as little as a few months or up to several years. These include greetings, directions, menus, and small talk.

 Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency Skills (CALPS) The skills necessary to succeed in mainstream content classrooms. They take an average of 7 to 10 years to acquire and require a much larger vocabulary, greater grammar skills and more complex sentence patterns than BICS.

 Language Minority (LM) A student who has another language in their background.

 English Language Learner (ELL), Non-English Proficient (NEP), and Limited English Proficient (LEP) Language minority students who have difficulties in reading, writing, speaking or listening in English. This affects their ability to achieve in the classroom, on assessments or in society.

English as a Second Language (ESL) or English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Special English language instruction for English Language Learners.

 Migrant An individual, between 3 and 21, who has moved accompanied a parent, spouse or guardian across school district boundaries in the past 3 years in order for the individual or parent, spouse or guardian to seek or accept agricultural/fishing employment.

 Title I.C (NCLB) Designed to help migratory children overcome educational disruption, cultural and language barriers, social isolation and other factors that inhibit their ability to do well in school.

 Title III (NCLB) Designed to provide language instruction for LEP and Immigrant Students.