Students in English Language Learner Program growing The number
of Hamilton School District students who are learning to speak
English as a second language has grown from 38 to 63 in the past
three years. Instructional Services Supervisor Dee Bauman,
Ph.D., and Human Relations Specialist Erica Bova-Brown reported
on the district's comprehensive English Language Learner (ELL)
program. The program, which was established in the last four
years, helps students develop English language skills so that
they can be successful in their classes. Key elements of the
program are student assessments administered by reading
specialists to determine language proficiency, training for
classroom teachers who provide most of the direct support for
students, instructional aide time and interpreter services.
Students identified for the program speak a variety of
languages, the most popular being Hmong spoken by 54 students,
Spanish - 15, Arabic and Laotion - five each. There are 18 other
languages spoken by four or fewer student