English Language Learners
Fort Wayne Community Schools’ English Language Learners (ELL) program serves students who are learning English by providing English language development support in all of our schools. More than 3,900 students participate in ELL programs. FWCS also provides interpreting and translation services in many languages for our families, which represent over 70 languages, and consistently adds interpreters for additional languages. You can view the ELL Infographic for basic program information.
For more information, please contact the ELL department at 260-467-2105.
Multilingual Information Line at 260.467.2009
ELL Information
Identification of English Language Learners
See the Student & Family Support Services section for guidance on enrolling students in Fort Wayne Community Schools.
Students whose Home Language Surveys indicate that they speak or have in their background a language other than English are assessed with the WIDA Screener to determine their level of English proficiency:
FWCS Home Language Survey
Students at English proficiency levels 1.0-4.9 qualify for ELL services, which are provided in all FWCS schools.
ELL students’ level of English proficiency is assessed annually with the WIDA ACCESS Assessment. Students are reclassified as Fluent English Proficient when they reach an overall level of proficiency of 5.0 or higher. At that point, they exit the ELL program and are monitored for two years to ensure their success.
ELL Program Goal
ELL PROGRAM FOCUS
We Support and empower multilingual learners to become good at learning and good at life.
ENRICHING EVERY SCHOOL
- 3.900 ELL students (14% of students)
- 95 school-based ELL teachers
- 57 school-based ELL assistants
- 3 district ELL instructional coaches
- 2 ELL resource teachers
WE REPRESENT THE WORLD
FWCS students and families speak over 70 different languages and come from 70 different countries.
PERSONNEL AND FAMILIES TOGETHER
Full-time and part-time interpreters for Spanish, Burmese, Chin and Thai languages. Many as-needed interpreters for additional languages.
ELL STUDENTS SUCCEED
Increasing number of students reach proficiency in English to exit the ELL program each year.
ELL students outperform district averages on assessments when they reach proficiency in English.
In 2018 FWCS was recognized with the first-ever Title III Indiana Distinguished School District Award for success in working with ELL students and families.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS
Main Line: 260-467-2105
Multilingual Information Line: 260-467-2009
Spanish Interpreter Line: 260-467-1156
Burmese Interpreter Line: 260-467-1059
ELL Resources
Indiana Department of Education
Office of English Learning & Migrant Education
WIDA
English Language Development standards and resources
Colorín Colorado
A bilingual (English/Spanish) site for families and educators of English language learners
Reading Rockets
Teaching kids to read and helping those who struggle
Ethnologue
Languages of the World
Dave’s ESL Café
Stuff for Students
International Children’s Digital Library
Unite for Literacy
Children’s books with audio available in many languages