Learning Supports

Making Education Accessible to All Southeast Polk Students

Spanish speaking Willowbrook students with Officer Walker and Amy Olesen

Emergent Bilinguals

Southeast Polk’s English Language Learner program uses an approach called “sheltered instruction.” This means Emergent Bilingual students learn the language both in their classrooms and individually with an English language instructor. The district has English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) instructors in every building.ESOL instructors and classroom teachers frequently communicate about students’ classroom learning and their English language development.

Southeast Polk’s English Language Learner program is designed to help Emergent Bilingual students:

  • Become English proficient in the language skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening at their grade level.
  • Become proficient in core content at their grade level.
  • Develop pride in their own bilingualism and biculturalism.

For more information, contact Stephanie Laird, PK-12 Learning Supports Coordinator, at stephanie.laird@southeastpolk.org.

FAQ

All new students complete a Home Language Survey at registration with their parents or guardian. This is the first step in identifying students who may benefit from support in English learning.

When a language other than English is spoken at home, ESOL teachers assess students using a state approved screening tool.

The district makes every attempt to inform language minority parents of all school matters through translated letters and notices and school provided interpreters.

Students exit the program when the state English language test ELPA21 indicates the required score for proficiency.

TAG Education

The mission of the Southeast Polk Community School District Talented and Gifted (TAG) Program is to provide and support educational programming designed to maximize the unique cognitive abilities and enhance the personal growth of students who possess outstanding abilities and are capable of high performance. Each summer, student needs are formally reviewed through a district matrix for appropriate program placement. TAG students comprise about five to seven percent of the total student population district-wide.

Program Goals

  • Identify and serve students representing the diversity of the district (gender, race, SES, English Language Learner, and twice-exceptional education) in the areas of general and specific giftedness as well as creative thinking ability.
  • Provide varying levels of services to address the different academic, social, and emotional needs of our identified students. These will include pull-out programming, enrichment, subject-area acceleration, and advanced course options.
  • Annually provide in-service opportunities for faculty related to the cognitive, behavioral, and affective needs of gifted students.

For more information, contact Stephanie Laird, PK-12 Learning Supports Coordinator, at stephanie.laird@southeastpolk.org.

Helpful Links

Title I Math

Program Goals

  • To develop awareness of how numbers are used to express relationships.To improve basic math skills early for struggling students.
  • To build a better math foundation and develop faster math use to improve math understanding.
  • To help children reach their mathematics potential.
  • To foster a love of math and an ability to use math.

Elementary Level:

  • Three to five times weekly
  • 25-30 minute sessions
  • In small groups or one-on-one with the Title I Math teacher

How is instruction provided?

Teachers work to develop a plan for each child. Specialized math instruction is provided through the cooperation of the classroom teacher and the Title I Math specialist.

Supplemental math instruction with the Title I Math teachers may be one-to-one or in small groups.

For more information, contact Jayne Beecham, PK – 12 Math Coordinator, at jayne.beecham@southeastpolk.org.

Title I Reading

Program Goals

  • To develop awareness of how letter sounds are used to form words.
  • To improve basic early reading skills for struggling students.
  • To build accurate and fluent reading and improve comprehension.
  • To help children reach their reading potential.
  • To foster a love of books and a desire to read.

Elementary Level:

  • Three to five times weekly
  • 25-30 minute sessions
  • In small groups or one-on-one with the Title I Reading teacher

How is instruction provided?

Teachers work to develop a plan for each child.
Specialized reading instruction is provided through the cooperation of the classroom teacher and the Title I Reading specialist.

Supplemental reading instruction with the Title I Reading teachers may be one-to-one or in small groups.

For more information, contact Kerrie Bernstein, K-5 Literacy Coordinator, at kerrie.bernstein@southeastpolk.org.