ELL – Quality Teaching for English Learners

The AISD ELL student population has been steadily increasing over the past 20 years.  Currently, ELLs make up over 28% of the student population. The difference in academic outcomes between these students and their native English speaking peers is striking, particularly in respect to standardized test scores and graduation rates. AISD is committed to improving academic performance and closing the achievement gap for this group of students.

In 2007, AISD entered into a partnership with world-renowned ELL scholar, Dr. Aída Walqui and her team of experts at WestEd in order to increase high-quality instruction for ELLs at Lanier and International high schools.

Work over the past two years with WestEd at Lanier and International high schools has included:

• Professional development for all teachers

• Instructional support for core departments

• Focused instructional support in mathematics
•  A leadership group of teachers/administrators are being trained to carry on this work as professional developers through an apprenticeship process
  

A unique element of the work with WestEd is the development of sustained capacity to continue the implementation of Quality Teaching for English Learners after the collaboration with WestEd has ended.

What’s new in 2009 - 2010?

During the summer of 2009, AISD hosted its first Quality Teaching for English Learners (QTEL) Building the Base Institute, with presenters from Lanier and International high schools to 48 participants from 10 middle and high school campuses. This unique institute will be followed by two days of discipline specific professional development in the fall and one day of professional development focused on lesson planning in the spring.

Research and More Information