Secondary Newcomer Programs in the U.S.

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ISD 196 Newcomer Academy
Program Address:
4184 Braddock Trail
Eagan, MN 55343
Phone: (651) 683-6900
Steven.Lonning@district196.org
Contact Person:
Steve Lonning
ELL Teacher
221 Althea Lane, Hopkins, MN 55343
(952) 988-9673

  • Program Information
    • Information provided for school year: 2009-2010
      Year Program Started: 2003
      School/Grade Levels: High school site(s)
      Program Description:
      The Newcomer Academy is a full day (8 am - 2:30 pm), optional 4-week summer reading and writing immersion program for ELL newcomers who will enter grades 9 to 12. It is an additional opportunity in the summer to help students catch up to their peers before the next school year. Twenty-five entering 9th to 12th grade students are bussed to one center. The program serves students from seven schools (three middle, four high). The center is staffed by two full-time ELL teachers, one health teacher, one science teacher, and two peer tutors. High school credits offered are the following: 2 elective English credits, 1 health credit, and 1 science credit. A “Reader's and Writer's” workshop format is used for the English instruction from 8 am to 12 pm. From 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm, ELL staff collaborate with the health teacher to bring in guest speakers from the community, who address high-interest health topics, such as relationships, fitness, and safety. They also discuss how to access health care resources, and more. Field trips to cultural events and hands-on science activities in the field are part of this program as well.
      Newcomer Student Definition:
      A newcomer is any student who has been in the U.S. for less than one year or who is identified as eager to learn and still lagging behind his/her peers.
      Aspects of Program Working Well:
      This summer newcomer program gives an underserved population an opportunity for intensive reading and writing practice for 6 weeks every summer. We go on field trips to cultural events and participate in hands-on science activities in the field.
      Type of Language Program: ESL
      Type of Community: Suburban
      How Families Learn of Program: Flyers, Parent-Teacher conferences
      Students Assigned From:
      • More than one school
      Name(s) of the Home School(s): Eagan High School, Apple Valley High School, Eastview High School, Rosemount High School, Dakota Hills Middle School, Falcon Ridge Middle School, Scott Highlands Middle School
      Funding Sources:
      Other District Language Support Programs: After school homework help either in school, after school, or in housing projects with high concentrations of ELL students.
  • Program Design Features
    • Program Location:
      • Separate site from home school(s)
       Length of Day:
      • Full-day Program
       Length of Program:
      • Summer program: 4 week(s)
       Average Length of stay: 4 week(s)
      Maximum Length of stay: 4 week(s)
      Average Class Size: 25 student(s)
      Entry Criteria: Students must be entering grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 and have been less than 1 year in the U.S. or have a significant learning gap, combined with eagerness to participate.
  • Newcomer Student Demographics
    • Number of Newcomer Students in Program: 23
      Age Range of Students: 14 - 18
      Number of Countries Represented: 7
      Most Common Countries:
      • Somalia
      • Mexico
      • El Salvador
      • Togo
      • Ethiopia
       Number of Non-English Languages Represented: 6
      Most Common Student Languages:
      • Spanish
      • Somalian
      • French
      • Amharic
      • Persian
       Percentage of Students with Interrupted Formal Schooling: 85%
      Percentage of Students with Free or Reduced Lunch: 95%
  • Instruction
    • Languages Used for Instruction: English
      Courses Provided by the Newcomer Program:
      • Sheltered content in English
        • science
        • health
      • ESL or English language development
      • Cross-cultural/orientation to the United States
      • Reading intervention
      • School/study skills
      Typical Newcomer Student Schedule: From 8 am to noon, students have a “Reader's and Writer's” workshop for the English instruction. From 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm, ELL staff collaborate with the health teacher to bring in guest speakers to discuss health topics. Students also go on field trips.
      Literacy Development Practices: 30 minutes daily for independent reading, guided reading groups, reading strategy instruction
      Literacy Materials Used: A classroom library of over 400 high interest titles for emergent readers. Group sets of leveled books for guided reading groups. Linmore Press "Personal Stories", CDLP (California Distance Learning Project) online website, 25 laptop computers, audio books.
      High School Courses Receiving Core Credit: Health Earth Science
      High School Courses Receiving Elective Credit: English
      Credit Recovery or Online Learning Courses: There are some programs in the district available to students after completing the fall trimester.
      Additional Learning Opportunities: This is a summer program.
      Ancillary Services Offered Students:
      5- or 6- Year Program Available for High School Newcomer Students: N/A
  • Assessment and Evaluation
    • Placement Measures
      Reading:
      DRA (Developmental Reading Assessment)
      English language proficiency:
      Oral interview, writing samples
      Content:
      Progress Measures
      Reading:
      English language proficiency:
      Content:
      Achievement Measures
      State standards tests:
      NA.
      Other assessments:
      Program Evaluation: Yes. Staff meet after the close of the program to discuss effectiveness. No objective measures are used.
  • Student Transition and Monitoring
    • Type of Program Students Exit Into:
      • ESL
       Exit Criteria: Students are not required to attend our newcomer program. It is viewed as an additional opportunity in the summer to help students catch up to their peers before the next school year.
      Measures to Facilitate Student Transition Out of the Newcomer Program: This is a summer program only. Students go to their regular schools in the fall.
      N/A
  • Program Staffing and Professional Development
    • Total Number of Program Administrators: 1
      Full Time in Newcomer Program:
      Total Number of Teachers: 3
      Full Time in Newcomer Program: 2
      Criteria to Teach in Newcomer Program: ELL licensure is required.
      Total Number of Paraprofessionals: 0
      Total Number of Resource Teachers: 0
      Total Number of Guidance Counselors for School:
      Social Worker/Family Liaison: No
      Guidance Counselors for Program: No
      Total Number of Staff Who Speak in One of the Student Native Languages: 1
      Languages that Staff Speak in Addition to English: Spanish
      Professional Development Topics for Teachers and Staff:
  • Connecting Families and Social Capital Networks
    • School Services Offered to Parents and Families:
      Newcomer Program Partnerships:
      We bring in law enforcement and county health workers to speak to the group. The University of Minnesota community outreach nutrition specialist teaches a unit on healthy eating.
      Social Services for Families:
      N/A
      Methods to Inform Families of Services Available:

      Methods to Inform Service Agencies of Newcomer Program: