May 7, 2020 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Curriculum Committee Meeting

As the number of students in the Bethel Public Schools with limited English proficiency grows, we continue to strive to provide a program that meets their needs.

We currently have a bilingual/TESOL teacher working at BHS and one that services our students at Berry and Rockwell Schools

Last year the Board approved 2 new courses at Bethel High School, English Language Development I and English Language Development II, to support the language acquisition of our students who are English learners.

ELD I is a year long course designed for students who have had little or limited exposure to the English language. At this level, students work to develop their ability to communicate in English within social, school, and academic contexts.

ELD II is a year long course designed for students who have some exposure to the English language and are able to maneuver basic communicative tasks in uncomplicated social or survival situations.  At this level, the focus is on increasing the complexity of the ideas students are able to express and apply them in social, school, and academic contexts.

We worked with a consultant from ACES (a Regional Education Service Center) to assist us in developing the curriculum for each of the courses that incorporate the Connecticut English Language Proficiency Standards. 

ELD I Curriculum

ELD II Curriculum

We will continue to work with our classroom teachers to provide sustained, professional learning opportunities to work with students with whom English is not their first language.