Lowndes County Schools' ESOL Program
English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) is a state-funded instructional program for eligible English Learners (ELs) in grades K-12 (Georgia School Law Code 1981, § 20-2-156, enacted in 1985). The ESOL program is a standards-based curriculum emphasizing academic and social language development. ESOL coursework is based upon the WIDA Consortium English Language Development (ELD) standards. Classroom teachers integrate these ELD standards with the Georgia Standards of Excellence to enable ELs to both communicate in English and demonstrate their academic, social, and cultural proficiency. Instructional approaches, both in ESOL and general education classes, ensure that the needs of Georgia’s ELs are accommodated.
ESOL Contacts
Parent Communication Plan
Home Language Survey
The home language survey is given to all parents of students to complete at registration. If a language other than English is identified, students will be screened for English Language Proficiency.
Universal Home Language Survey Information
School-Home Communication
Per federal law, school-home communication must be provided in a language that families understand. In an effort to facilitate this communication, translation and interpretation services are available at no charge to families who require assistance in understanding all district and school related information. Lowndes County Schools provides assistance to families of English Learners in their home language. Lowndes County Schools uses World Wide Interpreter and Transact.com as resources for school-home communication. Families or students who need assistance in a language other than English may call 229-245-2250.
Parent Notification for English Learners
The district assures that parental notification is provided as required for:
- combined notification of ESOL and federal program language services
- notification of annual assessment for English language proficiency
- annual assessment score reports to show growth in language proficiency (Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing)