The English Language Development (ELD) Department provides services to students who are English Language Learners (ELLs) in order to support their development in the English language and ensure their success in school.

Identifying English Language Learners is required by Federal law.

The U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, requires every school district to identify the primary language of their students. It is important to know that Federal and State funding for ELD programs relies on accurate identification and English language proficiency assessment of ELLs.

How are English Language Learners identified?

As part of the enrollment process in Poudre School District, parents complete a Home Language Survey (HLS) for their child. When parents indicate that a language other than English is spoken by the child and/or in the home, an ELD staff member reviews the HLS and may conduct a language screening interview with a parent to determine if the student needs to take the WIDA ACCESS placement test. This test assesses English development levels in speaking, listening, reading and writing and is used to determine eligibility for ELD programs.  If students qualify, they will receive services for 30 min. a day in the area of language development.  Students take the WIDA Access test every year to assess, group and determine if they still qualify.