Secondary Newcomer Programs in the U.S.

<< Back to results

Las Americas Middle School
Program Address:
6501 Bellaire Blvd.
Houston, TX 77074
Phone: (713) 773-5300
Fax: (713) 773-5303
mmoreno@houstonisd.org
http://ms.houstonisd.org/lasams/
Contact Person:
Marie Moreno
Principal
mmoreno@houstonisd.org

Program Information
- Information provided for school year: 2010-2011
  Year Program Started: 1998
  School/Grade Levels: Middle school site(s)
  Program Description:
  Las Americas Middle School’s (LAMS) is a full-day, whole school program designed for new arrivals. The administration, teachers, and staff are committed to the vision that all students, regardless of prior education or knowledge, can become proficient English language readers, writers, listeners, and speakers with guided and structured instruction in a secure environment. Students may remain in the program for all three middle school years (Grades 6–8), if they are not ready to be in ESL mainstream classes. A 1-hour, extended day program during the school year and a 4-week summer school program are also offered to students at this middle school. Las Americas Middle School is a small school with 150-170 students. Students, regardless of age or grade, are placed in classes based on their English proficiency. There are 6 teachers with various backgrounds that assist students in adjusting to a new environment. LAMS shares a location with another small school, Kaleidoscope Middle School, which many newcomer students enter upon exiting Las Americas Middle School. LAMS has created and implemented a sophisticated program for newcomers that is designed to meet their language proficiency and their academic needs, as well as their acclimation to different cultures. Las Americas offers six levels of ESL, including two level A’s at the traditional “beginner proficiency level” because so many of the students enroll into LAMS with no or low literacy in their own language and gaps in their educational backgrounds. These six levels in order of advancing proficiency are A1, A2, B1, B2, C, and 2. In terms of academic literacy development, LAMS aims to develop students’ reading skills to a 1st —2nd grade level by the end of level A, 2nd—3rd grade level by the end of level B1, 4th—5th grade level by the end of level B2, 6th—7th grade level by the end of level C, and 8th—9th grade level by the end of level 2. In order to achieve success in this complex program for English language learners, ESL/ELA teachers work closely with other teachers to help build some of the background knowledge the students lack in the core subjects, which includes developing their academic vocabulary and comprehension skills. Level placement for LAMS students is based on ELL standards, not mainstream classroom standards. Students move through the proficiency levels at varying rates based on classroom performance, motivation, and assessments. As a student’s performance increases, an assessment is given to the student during tutorial class. Students may move up (or down) the proficiency levels weekly or as needed based on (1) Student’s prior education / knowledge, (2) Student’s acquisition of English in native country, or (3) Student’s illiteracy in native language.
  Newcomer Student Definition:
  A newcomer student is a recently arrived immigrant from another country and/or a student that has been in a U.S. school no more than 1 year. We have found many students born in the U.S.A., leave the U.S.A. and return back to the U.S.A. in their middle school years. These students are also allowed to enroll as “Newcomers”.
  
  Aspects of Program Working Well:
  The leveling of students by language ability not by grade level is working well. Students are being taught based on their need and ability. We work in centers in all classrooms. We are implementing the SIOP Model. The students make the transition into mainstream classes when they are ready and have moved up the English proficiency levels. That can be one week, one month, 6 weeks, or more depending on the child. Sharing a campus location with Kaleidoscope Middle School eases the transition process.
  
  Type of Language Program: ESL
  Type of Community: Urban/metropolitan
  How Families Learn of Program: Other middle schools around the area have information and disseminate that information.
  Students Assigned From:
  More than one school
  
  Name(s) of the Home School(s): Long Middle School, others.
  
  Funding Sources:
  
  Federal: Title I, Title III
  State: Compensatory Education
  District
  Other District Language Support Programs: ESL programs are in other schools.
Program Design Features
- Program Location:
  Whole school (e.g., Grades 6-8 or 9-12
  Length of Day:
  Full-day Program
  After-school program: 1 hour(s)
  Length of Program:
  Summer program: 4 week(s)
  More than 1-year program: 6 semester(s)
  Average Length of stay: 6 semester(s)
  Maximum Length of stay: 6 semester(s)
  Average Class Size: 20 student(s)
  Entry Criteria: Newly arrived immigrant or in a U.S. School for less than 1 year
Newcomer Student Demographics
- Number of Newcomer Students in Program: 160
  Age Range of Students: 11-16
  Number of Countries Represented: 26
  Most Common Countries:
  Mexico
  Honduras
  El Salvador
  Burundi
  Pakistan
  Number of Non-English Languages Represented: 11
  Most Common Student Languages:
  Spanish
  Swahili
  Urdu
  Kirundi
  Arabic
  Percentage of Students with Interrupted Formal Schooling: 80%
  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
  other: Reading
  ESL or English language development
  Reading intervention
  
  Typical Newcomer Student Schedule: Level A—Intensive English. Students receive 5 hours of English, 1 hour of math, 1 hour of P.E., and 1 hour of study hall (tutorials). Level B—Academic English acquisition with content area inclusion. Students receive 4 hours of English, 1 hour of math, 1 hour of P.E., 1 hour of science/social studies introduction, and 1 hour of study hall (tutorials). Level C—Academic English acquisition with content area inclusion. Students receive 3 hours of English, 1 hour of math, 1 hour of P.E., 1 hour of science, 1 hour of social studies, and 1 hour of study hall (tutorials). Level 2—Prepare to mainstream. Students are in English, math, science, social studies, reading, and P.E. Students at this level are preparing for mainstream classes and may attend Kaleidoscope Middle School.
  
  Literacy Development Practices: Word walls, visuals, tactile activities, Saxon phonics.
  Literacy Materials Used: We use the Visions curriculum, NewComers Curriculum, Milestones, Inside the USA, and our HISD-developed Newcomers curriculum. Students' English proficiency level determines which curriculum is used.
  
  High School Courses Receiving Core Credit: N/A
  
  High School Courses Receiving Elective Credit: N/A
  
  Credit Recovery or Online Learning Courses: N/A
  Additional Learning Opportunities: Yes, we offer summer school, Saturday school from 8 am-12 noon, and 1 hour after school every day.
  Ancillary Services Offered Students:
  
  Title I
  Health (physical)
  Tutoring
  Other: Full access health clinic with full pharmacy
  5- or 6- Year Program Available for High School Newcomer Students: N/A
Assessment and Evaluation
- Placement Measures
  Reading:
  
  TELPAS, Benchmarks, Teacher-created assessments
  
  English language proficiency:
  
  TELPAS
  
  Content:
  
  Released TAKS of lower grades then ultimately grade level Released TAKS, Benchmark assessments created by teachers.
  Progress Measures
  Reading:
  
  Teacher-developed tests
  
  English language proficiency:
  
  Released TELPAS
  
  Content:
  
  Benchmarks
  Achievement Measures
  
  State standards tests:
  
  TAKS reading, Math, Science, Social Studies, Writing; Stanford tests (district only) - All students and some students who no longer qualify for their 3rd year exemption. TAKS Reading 58% “ Math 75% “ Science 67% “ Social Studies 100% “ Writing 100%
  
  Other assessments:
  
  Teacher observation, Level of difficulty of work (Rigor), moving up English proficiency levels from A-1 to level 2.
  
  Program Evaluation: We evaluate how the year went by looking at our data, seeing results and making the proper adjustments. For example, we went to Fairfax, VA to see their model and came back and made some adjustments that would benefit students.
Student Transition and Monitoring
- Type of Program Students Exit Into:
  Mainstream
  Exit Criteria: When students reach level 2 of our leveling system, students make the transition to Kaleidoscope Middle School, another school at this location. At times some students take some subject area classes at Kaleidoscope while still attending sheltered classes for other subjects at LAMS.
  Measures to Facilitate Student Transition Out of the Newcomer Program: We transition them to take a few classes in the mainstream at Kaleidoscope. If they need additional support, they are returned back to sheltered classes at LAMS until they are ready. Lead teachers help facilitate the transition.
  Lead teachers
  
  Postsecondary Options for High School Newcomers:
  
  Other: Kaleidoscope Middle School with support from LAMS
Program Staffing and Professional Development
- Total Number of Program Administrators: 2
  Full Time in Newcomer Program: 2
  Total Number of Teachers: 6
  Full Time in Newcomer Program: 6
  Criteria to Teach in Newcomer Program: ESL Endorsement, work longer hours, work summer school, work Saturday school, be flexible
  Total Number of Paraprofessionals: 1
  Total Number of Resource Teachers: 0
  Total Number of Guidance Counselors for School: 2
  Social Worker/Family Liaison: No
  Guidance Counselors for Program: No
  Total Number of Staff Who Speak in One of the Student Native Languages: 8
  Languages that Staff Speak in Addition to English: Spanish, some Kirundi
  Professional Development Topics for Teachers and Staff: SIOP Model training, Latin/Greek root words, ELPS (English Language Proficiency Standards)
Connecting Families and Social Capital Networks
- School Services Offered to Parents and Families:
  Parent outreach
  Native language literacy courses
  Information sharing with community organizations
  Other
  
  Newcomer Program Partnerships:
  We are in collaboration with the Memorial Herman Hospital System which means all students have free access to a doctor, registered nurse, sports medicine doctor, psychologist, nutritionist, and social worker. This is a full clinic so all health concerns are addressed.
  
  Social Services for Families:
  Besides the health care mentioned, we have a refugee service department through the district that supports refugee families.
  Methods to Inform Families of Services Available:
  During the enrollment process
  Methods to Inform Service Agencies of Newcomer Program:
  The agencies meet regularly with the Refugee Department Manager.