Secondary Newcomer Programs in the U.S.

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San Diego New Arrival Center
Program Address:
4100 Normal St
San Diego, CA 92103
Phone: (619) 725-7264
Fax: (619) 686-6772
crothenberg@sandi.net
http://www.sandi.net/depts/ola/
Contact Person:
Carol Rothenberg
Resource Teacher
same
crothenberg@sandi.net

  • Program Information
    • Information provided for school year: 2008-2009
      Year Program Started: 2008
      School/Grade Levels: High school site(s)
      Program Description:
      The mission of the SDUSD New Arrival Center is to provide a solid foundation in oral and written English for students who are new to English and new to the United States. This program will engage these students in a rigorous accelerated course of study that builds survival and academic English as well as background knowledge across the curriculum. Students typically are in the program for two semesters, although those who make sufficient progress may remain for only 1 semester. The self-contained classroom provides a curriculum focused on English language development and orientation to U.S. culture and schools. Other content classes—social studies and science—utilize a content-based approach to ESL, focusing on the foundation skills and language needed to participate successfully in grade-level classes. Students take math courses based on a math placement test, enrolling in regular math classes as appropriate. Students take P.E. and/or an elective within the regular school program. Links to community agencies, as well as the district’s Parent Community and Student Engagement Office, assist families in adjusting to their new country.
      Newcomer Student Definition:
      Newcomer students are new to the U.S. and new to English.
      Aspects of Program Working Well:
      The students are adjusting well to their new country - they are making friends and report being happy here. Their English proficiency is increasing daily - listening, speaking, reading and writing. We have been able to exit students mid-year either partially or fully into the mainstream program.
      Type of Language Program: ESL
      Type of Community: Urban/metropolitan
      How Families Learn of Program: Parent Nights
      Students Assigned From:
      • One school
      Name(s) of the Home School(s): Crawford Educational Complex; Lincoln High School
      Funding Sources:
      • Federal
      • State
      • District
       Other District Language Support Programs: Other schools have ELD programs.
  • Program Design Features
    • Program Location:
      • Program-within-a-school
       Length of Day:
      • Other: 3 of 4 periods (4x4 block) or 4 of 6 periods
       Length of Program:
      • Summer program: 6 week(s)
      • 1-year program
       Average Length of stay: 2 semester(s)
      Maximum Length of stay: 2 semester(s)
      Average Class Size: 19 student(s)
      Entry Criteria: In U.S. schools for less than 6 months, score of Beginning on state ELD test, score of Beginning on informal oral language assessment
  • Newcomer Student Demographics
    • Number of Newcomer Students in Program: 80
      Age Range of Students: 14 - 18
      Number of Countries Represented: 7
      Most Common Countries:
      • Burma
      • Mexico
      • Somalia
      • Uganda
      • Nepal
       Number of Non-English Languages Represented: 25
      Most Common Student Languages:
      • Karen
      • Spanish
      • Somali
      • Burmese
      • Arabic
       Percentage of Students with Interrupted Formal Schooling: 70%
      Percentage of Students with Free or Reduced Lunch: 100%
  • Instruction
    • Languages Used for Instruction: English
      Courses Provided by the Newcomer Program:
      • Sheltered content in English
        • math
        • science
        • social studies
        • language arts
        • health
      • ESL or English language development
      • Cross-cultural/orientation to the United States
      • School/study skills
      Typical Newcomer Student Schedule: Per. 1: ELD; Per. 2: P.E.; Per. 3: ESL Math; Per 4: rotation of ESL Science, ESL Social Studies, and Writing
      Literacy Development Practices: Content-based ESL; Explicit language instruction; Develop listening, speaking, reading, writing at the same time; Independent reading; Reciprocal reading; Modeling; Collaborative practice; Vocabulary development
      Literacy Materials Used: WRITE Institute; Longman Keys to Learning; Ballard & Tighe Champion of Ideas Red level; a variety of nonfiction text
      High School Courses Receiving Core Credit: None
      High School Courses Receiving Elective Credit: Electives, PE
      Credit Recovery or Online Learning Courses: Apex Credit Recovery is available for newcomer students when they have the English skills to access the learning.
      Additional Learning Opportunities: Summer school is available. Also the IRC (International Rescue Committee) sponsors an after school program for any students at the school, but the NAC students make up the bulk of the program. The program includes tutoring, language assistance, and field trips to various places around San Diego.
      Ancillary Services Offered Students:
      • Title I
      • Special Education
      • Health (physical)
      • Health (mental)
      • Tutoring
      • Other: Support from refugee agencies
       5- or 6- Year Program Available for High School Newcomer Students: All are eligible for a 5-year plan and summer school.
  • Assessment and Evaluation
    • Placement Measures
      Reading:
      California English Language Development Test (CELDT)
      English language proficiency:
      CELDT; Express Oral Language (EL Achieve); Writing sample
      Content:
      FAST Math (developed by Fairfax County Schools)
      Progress Measures
      Reading:
      Gates-McGinitie; Teacher-created tests
      English language proficiency:
      Express Oral Language; WRITE Institute
      Content:
      FAST Math
      Achievement Measures
      State standards tests:
      California Standards Test (CST); California Achievement Test (CAT/6)
      Other assessments:
      Observation; Oral presentations; Self-assessment
      Program Evaluation: Data analysis of student progress
  • Student Transition and Monitoring
    • Type of Program Students Exit Into:
      • ESL
       Exit Criteria: They are ready when the benchmark assessments are on par with students currently enrolled in the program they will enter.
      Measures to Facilitate Student Transition Out of the Newcomer Program: Visiting classes, pairing up with another student in the class (same language when possible) who helps with orientation, enrolling in sheltered classes with another student from the New Arrival Center
      The New Arrival Center teachers, coordinator, English Learner Resource Teacher, and school counselor help with transitions.
      Postsecondary Options for High School Newcomers:
      • GED
      • Technical or Trade School
      • Adult Basic Education
      • Community College
      • 4-yr college or university
      • Find a job
  • Program Staffing and Professional Development
    • Total Number of Program Administrators: 1
      Full Time in Newcomer Program:
      Total Number of Teachers: 4
      Full Time in Newcomer Program: 4
      Criteria to Teach in Newcomer Program: ESL certification; Understanding of unique needs of adolescent new arrivals; Understanding of content-based ESL approach; Desire to work with adolescent new arrivals
      Total Number of Paraprofessionals: 0
      Total Number of Resource Teachers: 0
      Total Number of Guidance Counselors for School: 5
      Social Worker/Family Liaison: No
      Guidance Counselors for Program: No
      Total Number of Staff Who Speak in One of the Student Native Languages: 2
      Languages that Staff Speak in Addition to English: Spanish, Arabic
      Professional Development Topics for Teachers and Staff: Focused English language development; Oral language development; Fostering student interaction and collaboration; Teaching math; Interdisciplinary, thematic instruction; Writing; Assessment; Using technology in the classroom; Curriculum mapping; Collaborative planning
  • Connecting Families and Social Capital Networks
    • School Services Offered to Parents and Families:
      • Parent outreach
      • Orientation to USA
      • Native language literacy courses
      • Adult basic education
      • Information sharing with community organizations
      • Other
      Newcomer Program Partnerships:
      Not yet but we plan to.
      Social Services for Families:
      Health services through school nurse; Refugee services (The International Rescue Committee runs an after school program that many newcomer students attend.)
      Methods to Inform Families of Services Available:
      Classroom presentations and introductions, parent night
      Methods to Inform Service Agencies of Newcomer Program:
      The IRC uses our classrooms for their after school program and New Arrival Center teachers meet with them informally on a regular basis.