English Learner (EL)

6 Characters saying hello in different languages

English Learners in NUSD

NUSD currently serves over 11,000 students Pre-K through age 22. Approximately 12% of Natomas’ students are English Learners, with 1,400 students speaking 55 different languages. More than half of all students in NUSD, including the independent charters, receive Free and Reduced Lunch. Natomas serves nearly 800 homeless families, 1,500 students in special education; and provides mental health services to nearly 10% of the students. Just under 62% of the district’s students fall into one or more of the three “high needs” categories: low-income, English Learners, or foster students – criteria identified as a priority in the state’s Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF).

The largest language of ELs spoken is Spanish at just over 50%.  Additionally, the most common languages spoken by EL families are:

  • Punjabi 10%
  • Urdu 5%
  • Hindi 3.5%
  • Russian 3%
  • Tagalog 2.5%
  • Arabic 2%
  • Vietnamese 2%
  • Mandarin and Cantonese 1.5%

There are newcomers (here 12 months or less) averaging under 5% while Long-Term English Learners (LTELs) average approximately 30%.
19% of our ELs are also students with an individualized education plan (IEPs). Approximately 60 ELs a year are in foster care and/or homeless.

English Language Development poster

English Learner Master Plan

NUSD has utilized classroom walks, parent and staff input through surveys, meetings and focus groups, collaboration with EL experts in the field, research on best practices and recommendations and data analysis to develop a comprehensive English Learner Master Plan. This plan enables us to provide a comprehensive approach for access to high quality, appropriate services and supports to our English Learners as well as providing staff resources, tools and supports to enhance staff knowledge and practices of effective EL instruction.

The Natomas Unified English Learner Master Plan will provide a strong foundation for truly acknowledging that our diversity is a strength, every student can and will succeed, and that staff must be committed, collaborative, caring and exemplary. This foundation will be built by providing a district expectation of high-quality instruction and services for our English Learners based on achievement. We will also celebrate and recognize achievement through opportunities such as the State Seal of Biliteracy. 

2021-22 Meetings – COMING SOON

Date Time Location Agenda
8/19/21 4:00-5:30 p.m. In-Person OR Virtual Meeting Link to Agendas

English Learner Master Plan

Bylaws

Meeting Minutes

Meeting Agendas

EL Supports at School Sites

Site EL Population (as of 10/2018) EL Support – Who to Contact
American Lakes School 98 = 16% Tom Dickinson
Bannon Creek School 77 = 14% Suzen Holtemann
Discovery High School 13 = 11% Laurelle Mathison
H. Allen Hight 110 = 16% Andrea Mitchell
Heron School 64 = 6% Amy Whitten
Inderkum High School 128 = 19% Dan Motherspaw
Jefferson School 128 = 19% Danisha Keeler
Leroy Greene Academy 64 = 8% David Rodriguez
Natomas High School 135 = 14% Scott Pitts
Natomas Middle School 99 = 13% Marcel Baker
Natomas Park Elementary 127 = 15% Nou Vang
Paso Verde 44 = 9% Heather Gohn
Two Rivers Elementary 58 = 9% Colleen Perry
Witter Ranch Elementary 90 = 13% Patrick Birdsong

State Seal of Biliteracy

Purpose of the State Seal of Biliteracy (from California Department of Education)

The State Seal of Biliteracy (SSB) was established to recognize high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in one or more languages in addition to English. The purposes of the SSB are to encourage pupils to study languages, to certify attainment of biliteracy, to provide employers with a method of identifying people with language and biliteracy skills, to provide universities with a method to recognize and give academic credit to applicants seeking admission, to prepare pupils with 21st century skills, to recognize and promote foreign language instruction in public schools, and to strengthen intergroup relationships, affirm the value of diversity, and honor the multiple cultures and languages of a community (California Education Code [EC] Section 51460.)

SSB Requirements
A student who graduates from high school must have achieved a high level of literacy and fluency in one or more language(s) in addition to English to be awarded the SSB.

The student must demonstrate:

1) Completion of all English language arts requirements for graduation with an overall grade point average of 2.0 in those classes.

2) Passage of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) for English language arts or any successor test, administered in grade eleven, at or above the “standard met” achievement level, or at the achievement level determined by the Superintendent for any successor test.

3) Proficiency in one or more languages, other than English, demonstrated through one of the following methods:

Passage of a foreign language Advanced Placement (AP) examination with a score of 3 or higher, or an International Baccalaureate (IB) examination with a score of 4 or more.

OR
Successful completion of a four-year high school course of study in a foreign language, attaining an overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher in that course of study, and demonstration of oral proficiency in the language comparable to that required to pass an AP or IB examination.

OR
Passage of a district test with a score of proficient or higher (if no AP examination or off the shelf language tests exists and the school district can certify that the test meets the level of an AP exam), demonstrating proficiency in all of the modes of communication (reading, writing, and speaking) that characterize communication in the language.

OR
Passage of the SAT II foreign language examination with a score of 600 or higher.

AND (UNIQUE TO ENGLISH LEARNERS)
In addition to the requirements mentioned above, if the primary language of a pupil is other than English, he/she or she shall demonstrate English proficiency on the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC), or any successor English language proficiency assessment, in transition kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades one to twelve, inclusive (EC Section 51461).

For questions regarding English Learner Services, please contact the Office of the Chief Academic Officer at (916) 473-0040.