Secondary Newcomer Programs in the U.S.

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Newark International Newcomer Student Center
Program Address:
24 Crane Street, 4th Floor
Newark, NJ 07104
Phone: (973) 481-5899
Fax: (973) 268-5324
ymanno@nps.k12.nj.us
Contact Person:
Yasmin E. Hernandez-Manno
Supervisor
24 Crane St., 4th Floor, Newark, NJ, 07104
(973) 481-5899

  • Program Information
    • Information provided for school year: 2010-2011
      Year Program Started: 2007
      School/Grade Levels: Combination middle and high school site
      Program Description:
      The Newark International Newcomer Student Center is a full-day, separate-site program housed within a high school that services the entire Newark district middle and high school students. The objectives of the program are the following: 1) for students to develop and acquire beginning English language skills; 2) for students to develop native language literacy skills in Spanish (if applicable); 3) to provide literacy instruction through the core academic content areas; 4) to guide the students’ acculturation to the U.S. school system; 5) to make students aware of educational expectations and opportunities, 6) to acclimate students and their parents to the community; and 7) to offer a flexible curriculum that responds to students’ needs and allows them to move through the program at an individual pace. Spanish speaking newcomer students have content classes in Spanish and others have sheltered content instruction. For the 2010-11 year, the course of studies follows the middle school curriculum. While in the program, students are part of the Alternative Education Program. Students generally remain in the program for four semesters, but some may remain for up to eight semesters, depending on their academic and language needs.
      Newcomer Student Definition:
      A newcomer is a student aged 12 or higher who has entered the United States after July 1st of the school year and has low native language literacy skills or no literacy skills at all due to interrupted formal schooling or no prior formal education in their native country.
      Aspects of Program Working Well:
      The program has been in operation since November 2007. In such a relatively short period of time, all the academic components of a balanced literacy program through content areas (science & social studies), mathematics, writing, and ESL are working extremely well. The assessment tools and staff development are also working very well.

      In April 2010, the Newark International Newcomer Student Center was designated as a Bilingual/ESL NJ Model Program Resource Center of Excellence for the 2010-2012 Award Period for the state of New Jersey.

      Type of Language Program: Bilingual
      Type of Community: Urban/metropolitan
      How Families Learn of Program: Program supervisor informs district parent liaisons, parent leaders, and parents.
      Students Assigned From:
      • More than one school
      Name(s) of the Home School(s): All district middle and high schools
      Funding Sources:
      • Federal: Title III Grant
      • District: Office of Bilingual Education & Office of Alternative Education
       Other District Language Support Programs: The district has Bilingual/ ESL programs districtwide to address these needs.
  • Program Design Features
    • Program Location:
      • Separate site from home school(s)
       Length of Day:
      • Full-day Program
      • After-school program
       Length of Program:
      • Summer program: 6 week(s)
      • More than 1-year program
       Average Length of stay: 4 semester(s)
      Maximum Length of stay: 8 semester(s)
      Average Class Size: 10 student(s)
      Entry Criteria: Newly arrived to the U.S. (less than 1 year), upper middle or high school student (ages 12 & up), SIFE (Students with Interrupted Formal Education) in their native country. Students must score at least 2 years below grade level on the IDEA Proficiency Test (IPT) to be considered for placement.
  • Newcomer Student Demographics
    • Number of Newcomer Students in Program: 40
      Age Range of Students: 12-18
      Number of Countries Represented: 9
      Most Common Countries:
      • Dominican Repuplic
      • Honduras
      • El Salvador
      • Liberia
      • Haiti
       Number of Non-English Languages Represented: 3
      Most Common Student Languages:
      • Spanish
      • Haitian Creole
      • French
       Percentage of Students with Interrupted Formal Schooling: 100%
      Percentage of Students with Free or Reduced Lunch: 80%
  • 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)
        • math
        • science
        • social studies
        • language arts
      • ESL or English language development
      • Native language literacy
      • Cross-cultural/orientation to the United States
      • Reading intervention
      • Native language arts
      • Other courses: Art
      Typical Newcomer Student Schedule: The program follows an A Day, B Day alternating type of schedule. A Day Schedule: Period 1- RIGOR Literacy (Spanish for Spanish Speaking Groups 1 & 2 and English for Level 3 Mixed Language Group), Period 2 – Writing (Level 3 Mixed Language Group), ESL (Level 2 Spanish Speaking Group) & Math (Level 1 Spanish Speaking Group), Period 3 – Writing (Level 2 Spanish Speaking Group), ESL (Level 1 Spanish Speaking Group) & Math (Level 3 Mixed Language Group), Period 4 – Lunch, Period 5 - Writing (Level 1 Spanish Speaking Group), ESL (Level 3 Mixed Language Group) & Math (Level 2 Spanish Speaking Group). B Day Schedule: Period 1 – Physical Education & Art – Teachers have a common planning period then a preparation time, Period 2 – Period 6 follows the same schedule as A Day Schedule above. The students also participate in an after school extended period program 4 days a week.
      Literacy Development Practices: Phonemic Awareness, vocabulary development, spelling, 6 + 1 Traits of Writing, guided reading, work stations, listening centers, e-books, speaking and viewing
      Literacy Materials Used: Benchmark RIGOR Literacy Program Levels 1 & 2 in English & Spanish, Benchmark Bridges and Navigations Literacy, 6 + 1 Traits of Writing, and ELLIS Computerized Program
      High School Courses Receiving Core Credit: None
      High School Courses Receiving Elective Credit: None at this time
      Credit Recovery or Online Learning Courses: N/A
      Additional Learning Opportunities: We offer a summer program and after school program. We hope to establish a Saturday school program. Students are required to attend the after school and summer programs unless parents do not grant consent.
      Ancillary Services Offered Students:
      • Health (physical)
      • Tutoring
       5- or 6- Year Program Available for High School Newcomer Students: Not at this time
  • Assessment and Evaluation
    • Placement Measures
      Reading:
      Benchmark RIGOR Literacy Pre-Assessment, Benchmark RIGOR Writing Pre-Assessment, Brigance Test Of Basic Skills in Spanish and English - Pre Assessment
      English language proficiency:
      IDEA English Proficiency Test (IPT), ESL McGraw-Hill - New to English/On Location Pre-Assessment
      Content:
      Brigance Test of Basic Skills in Spanish and English - Mathematics
      Progress Measures
      Reading:
      Brigance – Test of Basic Skills in English & Spanish pre and post tests, Benchmark RIGOR ongoing weekly formal and informal assessments pre-test, midterms and post tests are also administered.
      English language proficiency:
      ESL McGraw-Hill - New to English/On Location ongoing weekly formal and informal assessments, pre-tests, midterms and post tests are also administered.
      Content:
      Brigance Test Of Basic Skills in Spanish and English for Mathematics along with pre-tests, midterms and post tests, and Mathematics weekly ongoing formal and informal assessments and unit testings. Benchmark RIGOR ongoing weekly formal and informal assessments (science and social studies) pre-tests, midterms and post tests.
      Achievement Measures
      State standards tests:
      ACCESS, NJ ASK 6, NJ ASK 7, NJ ASK 8
      Other assessments:
      Individualized Program Plan (IPP), on-going informal and formal assessments, anecdotal notes, quarterly ESL/Literacy/Math progress reports, portfolio assessment folders, use of rubrics and review of authentic student work, daily informal assessment, observations, projects.
      Program Evaluation: Program evaluation consists of student performance on standarized tests, classroom assessments, student portfolios, student attendance, student completion of courses and teacher performance.
  • Student Transition and Monitoring
    • Type of Program Students Exit Into:
      • Bilingual
       Exit Criteria: Students must be enrolled at least one academic year in program although exceptions apply. Successful completion of ESL courses-New to English & On Location. Successful completion of RIGOR Literacy Program English and/or Spanish. Successful completion of Mentoring Minds Motivation Math Program English and/or Spanish as well as Benchmark Mathematics Program. Multiple assessments indicating continual progress. Analysis of scores on state assessments – ACCESS & NJ ASK. Successful completion of Alternative Education IPP goals and objectives.
      Measures to Facilitate Student Transition Out of the Newcomer Program: Students make visits to the receiving school and classrooms.
      Program Supervisor, Bilingual and ESL teachers help students with transitions.
  • Program Staffing and Professional Development
    • Total Number of Program Administrators: 1
      Full Time in Newcomer Program: 1
      Total Number of Teachers: 3
      Full Time in Newcomer Program: 3
      Criteria to Teach in Newcomer Program: Bilingual Certification, ESL Certification
      Total Number of Paraprofessionals: 0
      Total Number of Resource Teachers: 0
      Total Number of Guidance Counselors for School:
      Social Worker/Family Liaison: Yes.
      Guidance Counselors for Program: Yes
      Total Number of Staff Who Speak in One of the Student Native Languages: 2
      Languages that Staff Speak in Addition to English: Spanish, Creole, French
      Professional Development Topics for Teachers and Staff: Differentiated instructional practices, language acquisition for newcomer students, weekly periods for professional learning communities (PLC), SIOP Model , McGraw-Hill ESL Programs-New to English/On Location, Benchmark RIGOR Literacy Program (English/Spanish), Benchmark Math Explorers, Motivation Mathematics Program and Assessments – Formal, Informal & On-Going, 6 + 1 Traits of Writing, Parental participation/statewide Parent Advocacy Network, classroom management, culture sensitivity, writing students' Individualized Program Plan (IPP), assessment instruments, , Analyzing student work, student progress, needs assessment, procedures, district workshops, class trips.
  • Connecting Families and Social Capital Networks
    • School Services Offered to Parents and Families:
      • Parent outreach
      • Native language literacy courses
      • Other: Workshops for Immigrants, Workshops on How to Be Involved in the Success of Their Children’s Education, District-Wide Parental Monthly Workshops and Yearly Workshop, Partnerships with Community Based Organizations, Immigration Service Centers
      Newcomer Program Partnerships:
      Community Based Organizations & Organizations of Higher Education
      Social Services for Families:
      University of Medicine & Dentistry (UMDNJ), Community Based Organizations, Immigration Service Center and District Social Services
      Methods to Inform Families of Services Available:
      Information System
      Methods to Inform Service Agencies of Newcomer Program:
      Site Visits, district website and flyers