Secondary Newcomer Programs in the U.S.

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Nichols Newcomers
Program Address:
800 Greenleaf
Evanston, IL 60202
Phone: (847) 859-8491
vazquezy@district65.net

Contact Person:
Yesenia Vázquez

  • Program Information
    • Information provided for school year: 2008-2009
      Year Program Started: 1986
      School/Grade Levels: Middle school site(s)
      Program Description:
      This middle school program-within-a-school provides newcomers with an orientation to the U.S. culture and school system and a full day of courses. All of the students in the program have experienced interrupted formal schooling in their native countries. Their instruction includes sheltered content in math, science, social studies, and language arts as well as native language arts, ESL, and reading intervention. Students generally remain in the program for two semesters but may remain for four semesters if necessary.
      Newcomer Student Definition:
      A newcomer is a student who is new to the United States (within 6 months) or one with no prior schooling in the U.S.
      Aspects of Program Working Well:
      Our program offers newcomers an immediate comfort level provided by teachers who understand where newcomers have been.
      Type of Language Program: Bilingual
      Type of Community: Suburban
      How Families Learn of Program: At registration when the home language survey is given, and the W-APT scores gives a recommendation
      Students Assigned From:
      • An in-take/assessment center
      Funding Sources:
      • Federal: Title III
      • District: state grant funds
      • Private: local donations
      Other District Language Support Programs: ESL, Read 180
  • Program Design Features
    • Program Location:
      • Program-within-a-school
      Length of Day:
      • Full-day Program
      Length of Program:
      • More than 1-year program: 4 semester(s)
      Average Length of stay: 2 semester(s)
      Maximum Length of stay: 4 semester(s)
      Average Class Size: 14 student(s)
      Entry Criteria: Recently arrived to U.S. (less than 6 months) or no prior schooling in U.S.
  • Newcomer Student Demographics
    • Number of Newcomer Students in Program: 4
      Age Range of Students: 11-15
      Number of Countries Represented: 4
      Most Common Countries:
      • Mexico
      • Guatemala
      • El Salvador
      • Bolivia
      Number of Non-English Languages Represented: 1
      Most Common Student Languages:
      • Spanish
      Percentage of Students with Interrupted Formal Schooling: 100%
      Percentage of Students with Free or Reduced Lunch: 95%
  • Instruction
    • Languages Used for Instruction: English and Spanish
      Courses Provided by the Newcomer Program:
      • Sheltered content in English
        • math
        • science
        • social studies
        • language arts
      • Content Instruction in native language(s)
        • language arts
      • ESL or English language development
      • Cross-cultural/orientation to the United States
      • Reading intervention
      • Native language arts
      • School/study skills
      Typical Newcomer Student Schedule: Spanish Language Arts blocked with Bilingual (BL) teacher in mainstream class 2-3 periods per week. LIT, a double period block of English Language Arts (writing, grammar) and literature in English (reading, literary analysis skills), 2-3 periods per week in BL teacher's class. Third period is often a support class/study hall. Science in mainstream science teacher class (with labs). Social Studies with BL teacher 5 periods per week. Math - with mainstream teacher and BL teacher. Arts and P.E. - with mainstream teacher.
      Literacy Development Practices: Oral reading in English, emphasis on reading many books, dialogue journals, whole language stories, word walls, getting students library cards and showing them how to use the public library
      Literacy Materials Used: Graded readers, composition books, various readers
      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 by invitation to ELLs recommended by ESL/BL teacher (for 4 weeks, 4 days per week), Extended day program by recommendation (2-3 times per week with bilingual teachers and mainstream teachers), Saturday school by recommendation
      Ancillary Services Offered Students:
      • Special Education
      • Tutoring
      5- or 6- Year Program Available for High School Newcomer Students: N/A
  • Assessment and Evaluation
    • Placement Measures
      Reading:
      W-APT, Running record
      English language proficiency:
      W-APT, MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) scores, oral interview
      Content:
      District's math placement exam, MAP in math
      Progress Measures
      Reading:
      ACCESS for ELLs, Running record, MAP
      English language proficiency:
      ACCESS, MAP, dialogue journals
      Content:
      Curriculum based assessments published by our district
      Achievement Measures
      State standards tests:
      Yes, ISAT for math, also ACCESS for ELLs
      Other assessments:
      dialogue journals, portfolios of work
      Program Evaluation: No
  • Student Transition and Monitoring
    • Type of Program Students Exit Into:
      • Mainstream
      Exit Criteria: Students exit the program after two years.
      Measures to Facilitate Student Transition Out of the Newcomer Program: ESL/BL teachers co-teach in mainstream classes. Exiting/transitioning newcomers are placed there.
      The team leader helps students with transitions.

  • Program Staffing and Professional Development
    • Total Number of Program Administrators: 1
      Full Time in Newcomer Program: 1
      Total Number of Teachers: 2
      Full Time in Newcomer Program: 1
      Criteria to Teach in Newcomer Program: ESL/BL Spanish endorsement or certification, oral Spanish language skills
      Total Number of Paraprofessionals: 0
      Total Number of Resource Teachers: 3, Learning Disabilities teacher, Resource teacher
      Total Number of Guidance Counselors for School: 1
      Social Worker/Family Liaison: No
      Guidance Counselors for Program: No
      Total Number of Staff Who Speak in One of the Student Native Languages: 3
      Languages that Staff Speak in Addition to English: Spanish, Portuguese, English
      Professional Development Topics for Teachers and Staff: Range from Addressing the Second Language Learner to Differentiation to Math and Reading Interventions. There are a wide range of topics that are developed for PD in this district.
  • Connecting Families and Social Capital Networks
    • School Services Offered to Parents and Families:
      • Orientation to USA
      • Information sharing with community organizations
      Newcomer Program Partnerships:
      Yes, at Christmas we host a huge party sponsored by community to strengthen newcomer networks and provide clothing, food, and holiday gifts for new families.
      Social Services for Families:
      Social work, clothing, free/reduced lunch, vaccinations, mortgage assistance, glasses/eye exams
      Methods to Inform Families of Services Available:
      Through social worker and BL/ESL teachers
      Methods to Inform Service Agencies of Newcomer Program:
      The program does not have direct contact with the agencies.