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 4,200 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

English Language Learners Support

See What We Do

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

4,200 ELL students (15% of students)
100 school-based ELL teachers
58 school-based ELL assistants
3 district ELL instructional coaches
2 ELL resource teachers

PERSONNEL AND FAMILIES TOGETHER

We have full-time and part-time interpreters for Spanish, Burmese, Chin and Thai languages as well as many as-needed interpreters for additional languages.

WE REPRESENT THE WORLD

FWCS students and families speak over 70 different languages and come from 70 different countries.

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 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.

ELL Resources