Secondary Newcomer Programs in the U.S.

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I.S. 235, Academy for New Americans
Program Address:
30-14 30th Street
Long Island City, NY 11102
Phone: (718) 932-5876
Fax: (718) 932-5990
30Q235@schools.nyc.gov
Contact Person:
Carmen Iris Rivera
Principal
crivera@schools.nyc.gov

  • Program Information
    • Information provided for school year: 2008-2009
      Year Program Started: 1996
      School/Grade Levels: Middle school site(s)
      Program Description:
      The Academy for New Americans Intermediate School 235 (IS 235) is a separate site program designed to assist newcomer adolescents and their families in adapting successfully to their new environment and in coping effectively with the many challenges that accompany immigration to New York City. The Academy provides an array of educational, counseling, and human services on a transitional basis to help meet the linguistic, instructional, and other needs of the students and their families. All newcomers are English language learners and their length of stay at the Academy is for only one school year. Thereafter, the eighth graders continue on to high schools and the sixth and seventh graders go to their zoned schools. Our Academy motto, “A Passport to a New Beginning,” reflects the program goals to assist the students in adjusting to their new setting and prepare them for their eventual transition to other schools and society as a whole. This nurturing environment allows students to feel comfortable in acquiring English language skills. Students receive intensive ESL instruction as well as native language content area classes where possible in Transitional Bilingual programs. At registration or shortly after, in addition to the LAB-R, students are given our own placement test for ESL, math, and where possible, native language proficiency. Students are then placed in appropriate ESL classes using three categories: Beginners (most of the students fall in this category), Intermediate, and Advanced. For native language classes, students are placed according to their ability level for math, science, and social studies. We offer a full Spanish bilingual program that includes native language arts and a pull-out Mandarin literacy/math program. School projects and activities are conducted in English and the native language as well. Infused into our curriculum are the values of respect for bilingualism and cultural awareness. Our staff members, licensed and qualified bilingual content area and ESL teachers, encourage bilingual proficiency and biculturalism. Our multilingual staff provide assistance to students and their parents, using the major languages represented in our student population, which include Spanish, Bengali, Chinese, Arabic, Hindi, French, Greek, and Russian. There are three classes at each grade level (6, 7, 8). Two are bilingual Spanish and one is ESL content. An additional class for SIFE (Students with Interrupted Formal Education) is provided each year. The instructional strategies include oral language development and building reading and writing skills through the Workshop Model, scaffolding, TPR, and many other techniques. Students receive 90 minutes of ESL instruction daily; 75 minutes of native-language mathematics with 15 minutes of mathematics vocabulary development in English or 90 minutes of mathematics using ESL methodology; 45 minutes of science; and 45 minutes of social studies. Additionally, all students attend technology, music, and physical education classes. New York State Learning Standards for ELLs are incorporated into the curriculum and lesson planning of the teachers. Other activities that involve all students include peer tutoring and acquiring English skills through music, art, and school plays. A culminating activity called International Night Celebration is an annual event. At registration, the Parent Coordinator greets the parents and/or guardians and gives them a brief summary of the school goals and programs, including an explanation of the NYC school system in general. The parents also receive a booklet that informs them of school policies, rules, and expectations. Shortly after registration, parents are asked to attend an orientation that gives them a thorough overview of available bilingual and ESL programs. Staff are readily available to answer questions and concerns. Parent outreach activities include monthly workshops that provide valuable information on getting acquainted with the NYC school system, coping with adolescence, health related issues, and helping their children succeed in school. Parent classes include weekday morning and Saturday ESL classes, computer classes, and sewing classes, all available at the Academy. Parents are encouraged to participate in Parent Association and School Leadership Team activities.
      Newcomer Student Definition:
      A newcomer is an immigrant student from a non-English speaking country, who has registered in the United States school system and has not yet acclimated to the American culture.
      Aspects of Program Working Well:
      The following aspects are working well: a) Assistance with transitional stages; b) Bilingual services; c) Cultural awareness programs; and d) Technology in classrooms.
      Type of Language Program: Bilingual
      Type of Community: Urban/metropolitan
      How Families Learn of Program: District information, pamphlets, other schools, word of mouth, Web site, former students
      Students Assigned From:
      • More than one school
      Name(s) of the Home School(s): Intermediate School 145, Intermediate School 204, Intermediate School 141, Intermediate School 126, Intermediate School 010, and Intermediate School 230.
      Funding Sources:
      • Federal
      • State
       Other District Language Support Programs: Bilingual and ESL programs are offered in other schools, but very few schools offer bilingual classes at the middle school level.
  • Program Design Features
    • Program Location:
      • Separate site from home school(s)
       Length of Day:
      • Full-day Program
       Length of Program:
      • 1-year program
       Average Length of stay: 2 semester(s)
      Maximum Length of stay: 3 semester(s)
      Average Class Size: 20 student(s)
      Entry Criteria: Any student within the district from a non-English speaking country with less than 1 year in the U.S.
  • Newcomer Student Demographics
    • Number of Newcomer Students in Program: 170
      Age Range of Students: 11–15
      Number of Countries Represented: 34
      Most Common Countries:
      • Ecuador
      • Bangladesh
      • China
      • Mexico
      • Colombia
       Number of Non-English Languages Represented: 18
      Most Common Student Languages:
      • Spanish
      • Chinese
      • Bengali
      • Arabic
      • Portuguese
       Percentage of Students with Interrupted Formal Schooling: 10%
      Percentage of Students with Free or Reduced Lunch: 92%
  • Instruction
    • Languages Used for Instruction: English, Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin)
      Courses Provided by the Newcomer Program:
      • Sheltered content in English
        • math
        • science
        • social studies
        • language arts
        • health
        • other: PE, Music, Drama, Computer Technology
      • Content Instruction in native language(s)
        • math
        • science
        • social studies
        • language arts
      • ESL or English language development
      • Native language literacy
      • Native language arts
      Typical Newcomer Student Schedule: The student schedule includes 90 minutes math, 45 minutes social studies, 90 minutes ESL, 45 minutes science, and electives.
      Literacy Development Practices: Technology, small groups, peer work, project-based activities
      Literacy Materials Used: Academic RIGOR, VISIONS, Read 180, Achieve 3000, Acuity (ELA)
      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: Summer school, after school, Saturday Academy
      Ancillary Services Offered Students:
      • Health (physical)
      • Tutoring
       5- or 6- Year Program Available for High School Newcomer Students: N/A
  • Assessment and Evaluation
    • Placement Measures
      Reading:
      N/A
      English language proficiency:
      LAB-R, teacher-created examinations
      Content:
      Teacher-created examinations, Native language literacy in Spanish
      Progress Measures
      Reading:
      English Language Acuity, Read 180
      English language proficiency:
      NYSESLAT, English periodic assessment
      Content:
      Math Acuity; Periodic assessment; Math, Science and Social Studies city examinations.
      Achievement Measures
      State standards tests:
      Yes, Math, Science, Social Studies city exams; NYSESLAT
      Other assessments:
      Student portfolios, teachers/student conferences.
      Program Evaluation: Using our Progress Reports and Quality Review
  • Student Transition and Monitoring
    • Type of Program Students Exit Into:
      • ESL
       Exit Criteria: Teacher recommendations and completion of 1 year, as per the mandate of the NYC Department of Education.
      Measures to Facilitate Student Transition Out of the Newcomer Program: Orientation, school visits, sometimes an administrator from a zoned middle school will come and speak to the students
      Receiving schools
  • Program Staffing and Professional Development
    • Total Number of Program Administrators: 1
      Full Time in Newcomer Program: 1
      Total Number of Teachers: 14
      Full Time in Newcomer Program: 14
      Criteria to Teach in Newcomer Program: Yes, teachers must hold an ESL or Bilingual Teaching license and must be willing to share the school vision.
      Total Number of Paraprofessionals: 3
      Total Number of Resource Teachers: 0
      Total Number of Guidance Counselors for School:
      Social Worker/Family Liaison: Yes. The social worker works closely with newcomer students and their families to help them through transitional stages.
      Guidance Counselors for Program: Yes, 1
      Total Number of Staff Who Speak in One of the Student Native Languages: 22
      Languages that Staff Speak in Addition to English: Spanish, Hindi, Mandarin, Russian, Greek, Bengali
      Professional Development Topics for Teachers and Staff: Differentiated instruction, cultural awareness, SIFE strategies, using technology in the classroom, strategies for content area instruction, current ESL strategies and techniques, bilingual methodology, second language acquisition, and incorporating the core curriculum and ESL standards in the classroom
  • Connecting Families and Social Capital Networks
    • School Services Offered to Parents and Families:
      • Native language literacy courses
      • Information sharing with community organizations
      Newcomer Program Partnerships:
      21st Century Leadership Program— provides extra-curricular activities, homework help, tutoring, and sports. Lincoln Center - ESL through Drama
      Social Services for Families:
      Referrals are to community agencies that assist in health care, housing, immigration issues, and such.
      Methods to Inform Families of Services Available:
      The guidance counselor, social worker and parent coordinator work as a team to assist parents. Guest speakers from local agencies are invited to present at parent meetings.
      Methods to Inform Service Agencies of Newcomer Program:
      The parent coordinator and guidance counselor do outreach to local agencies.