English Learner – English Language Development

Each school in the Fremont Unified School District has a program designed to help bring students from their current English level to proficiency. This program meets the California State English Language Development Standards and is in compliance with federal and state mandated law.

Updates to the ELD Program (starting 26-27 school year)

What Is Changing?

Based on a recent review of state and federal guidance conducted by the California Department of Education (CDE), our district must ensure that all Multilingual Learner students, regardless of grade level, receive daily Designated English Language Development (ELD) instruction until they reclassify as Fluent English Proficient.

What is Designated English Language Development (ELD)?

Designated ELD is a dedicated class, or block of time, focused on language development skills based on the California ELD standards. For students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade, they will receive their designated ELD from their classroom teacher. Students in grades sixth through twelfth, will be enrolled in Designated ELD class with a teacher with proper EL authorization. This designated ELD course will be a separate class from their English Language Arts course and is considered an academic elective class. Students will continue to be enrolled in a designated ELD class until they meet the requirements to be reclassified as Fluent English Proficient.

What Does This Mean for Your Child?

Your child will participate in a Designated ELD every day. This is a protected time in the school schedule that focuses specifically to advance multilingual learners English skills such as:

Speaking
Listening
Reading
Writing

Designated ELD is taught by teachers with English Learner authorization and is designed to help students accelerate their English skills which will support them with their content classes and reclassification.

Will My Child Still Take Content Classes?

Yes. Your child will continue to learn alongside their classmates in all subject areas (such as math, science, English Language Arts and social studies). In content classes, teachers will provide Integrated ELD, which means your child is learning English while they learn subjects such as math, science, English Language Arts and social studies to build language and knowledge together. Designated ELD does not replace core instruction, it adds extra support.

How Long Will My Child Be in Designated ELD?

Students will continue to receive Designated ELD instruction until they meet the state and district requirements for reclassification.

What is the criteria for reclassification?

The reclassification criteria is set forth in Educational Code Section 313 and Title 5 California Code of Regulations (5 CCR) Section 11303. There are four criteria that a student must meet in order to be considered for reclassification. These criteria are:

Assessment of English Language Proficiency
- Overall Level 4 on the Summative ELPAC or 3 on the Alternative Summative ELPAC
Basic Skills Performance Assessment
- iReady English Language Arts assessment or
- English Language Arts Smarter Balance of California (SBAC)
- Unique Learning System
- English Language Arts California Alternate Assessment
Teacher Evaluation
- Review students’s English proficiency and curriculum mastery.
Parent/Guardian Consultation

Once students meet the reclassification criteria, they will no longer be enrolled in a designated ELD class and their status will change to Reclassified Fluent English Proficient (RFEP). The district will monitor RFEP students (20 United States Code Section 6841[a][4][5]; Title 5 California Code of Regulations [5 CCR] Section 11304) progress for four consecutive years to ensure the following:

Students have not been prematurely exited;
Any academic needs they incurred as a result of learning English has been remedied; and
Students have meaningful participation in the standard instructional program comparable to their English only peers

Why Are We Making This Change?

This change ensures that:

Students receive consistent, daily support to learn English
Instruction follows California’s English Language Development standards
Multilingual Learners have the tools they need to succeed academically and socially

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

SPANISH FAQ

CHINESE FAQ

Resources for Parents

This link provides resources for parents who have children enrolled in the ELD program within Fremont Unified.

Assessment

When first enrolled in the Fremont Unified School District, each family will be required to fill out a Home Language Survey. If this survey indicates that a language other than English is spoken in the home, your child will be give the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) within the first 30 days on enrollment. Students who have previously taken the CELDT or ELPAC will be given an annual assessment every year during the testing window until proficiency is reached. This assessment is called the ELPAC. Below is a list of topics covered in the ELPAC:

Listening
Speaking
Reading
Writing

Academic Programs

All TK - 5th grade students will receive English Language Development instruction in their classrooms during the school day. Please see your child's teacher for more information on how your child is receiving ELD instruction during the school day.

English Learners - Grades 6-12

Each middle school and high school in Fremont Unified School District offers specialized programs and services for English Learners and their families, in compliance with state and federal mandates.

Each school designs the academic program for their English Learners based on district guidelines and state and federal regulations, and school counselors place each English Learner in classes accordingly. Students at the lowest levels of English proficiency are assigned to self-contained English Language Development (ELD) classes for part of their school day, where they receive intensive instruction in oral language development, grammar, reading, writing, and vocabulary development. In their other classes, the teachers use specific instructional strategies to make the curriculum comprehensible to the students, according to their English proficiency. All teachers of English Learners must hold special authorization from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing in addition to their subject-area credential. Some schools hire bilingual instructional paraeducators to support the English Learners in their ELD and other classes.