English Learners

A number of resources and services are available to schools to help English Learners (ELs) demonstrate their ability to understand, read, and write English in order to function and be successful in school and in American society.  

Our BCPS Webpages can be translated into all the home languages of all of our registered students. Click on the Picture of the Language Dropdown located on the toolbar of the BCPS webpages dropdown on the toolbar of the BCPS webpages and then select the language of choice to translate the page.

Virginia Department of Education Title III webpage

In the State of Virginia, English Learner (EL) teachers provide the English Learner (EL) students access to the development of academic language via the World Class Instruction Design and Assessment (WIDA) Framework of teaching. While this framework helps Virginia teachers of all content to understand the normal process for acquisition of specialized, and in this case academic, language.
WIDA (World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment) Website

English Learners School divisions receiving federal funds to provide a language instruction educational program must, not later than 30 days after the beginning of the school year, inform the parents of English learners of the following:

  • the reasons for the identification of their child as an English learner and in need of placement in a language instruction educational program
  • the child's level of English proficiency, how such level was assessed, and the status of the child's academic achievement
  • the methods of instruction used in the program in which their child is, or will be participating, and the methods of instruction used in other available programs, including how such programs differ in content, instructional goals, and the use of English and a native language in instruction
  • how the program in which their child is, or will be participating, will meet the educational strengths and needs of their child
  • how such program will specifically help their child learn English and meet age-appropriate academic achievement standards for grade promotion and graduation
  • the specific exit requirements for the program, including the expected rate of transition from such program into classrooms that are not tailored for English learners and the expected rate of graduation from high school (including four year adjusted cohort graduation rates and extended-year adjusted cohort graduation rates for such program) if federal funds are used for children in high schools
  • in the case of a child with a disability, how such program meets the objectives of the individualized education program of the child
  • information pertaining to parental rights that includes written guidance detailing
    • the parents’ right to have their child immediately removed from such program upon their request and
    • the options that parents have to decline to enroll their child in such program or to choose another program or method of instruction, if available
    • information pertaining to parental rights that includes written guidance assisting parents in selecting among various programs and methods of instruction, if more than one program or method is offered by the division. US Code law : 20 U.S.C. § 6312(e)(3)

For those children who have not been identified as English learners prior to the beginning of the school year, the division must give the notifications listed above to parents within the first two weeks of the child being placed in a language instruction educational program. US Code law : 20 U.S.C. § 6312(e)(3)

In addition, parents of English learners will be notified regarding parental involvement opportunities in the same manner as notice is given regarding other Title I programs. US Code law : 20 U.S.C. § 6312(e)(3)

FOR BCPS STAFF ONLY: Bedford County ESL Handbook


For more information contact:
Mr. Aaron Mabery 
Supervisor of Humanities
[email protected]