Supporting Your Child’s Success: English Learner (EL) Services

Welcome to Niles Community Schools! We are dedicated to ensuring every student has the tools they need to reach their full potential while mastering the English language.

Is my child eligible?

When you enroll, we use two main steps to determine if your child qualifies for extra support:

• Step 1: Reviewing the Home Language Survey (HLS) provided during registration.

• Step 2: Administering the WIDA Screener, a brief assessment of your child’s current English skills.

How we help your child

If eligible, your child will receive EL Supplemental Instructional Services. These are designed to:

• Support Classroom Learning: We work alongside regular classroom instruction so your child understands daily lessons.

• Focus on Language: We help students improve their speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills.

• Reach Graduation Goals: Our goal is to ensure every student meets academic standards for grade promotion and graduation.

Students with Disabilities

If your child has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), our EL team works hand-in-hand with Special Education staff to provide a coordinated plan that meets all of your child’s unique needs.

Moving Toward Independence (Exiting the Program)

We monitor your child’s progress every year. Students graduate from EL services when they:

• Reach at least 3rd Grade.

• Earn an overall score of 4.8 on the annual WIDA Access test.

• Once exited, we continue to monitor your child’s success for two years to ensure they are thriving.

Have Questions? Contact Our Team

We are here to support you and your child. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to send us an email.

Niles Community Schools Office: (269) 683-0736 ext. 10032