Rescue Union School District
Educating for the Future, Together
RUSD English Learner Program
Rescue Union School District presently serves approximately 150 English Learners who speak a variety of languages from around the world. We believe that all students, regardless of language, race, socio-economic status or ethnic background, shall be afforded options and opportunities to be college and career ready. With English learners comprising a quarter of the state of California's six million students, RUSD makes it a high priority to engage in conversations around instructional practices related to English learner outcomes. We are committed to the whole child being literate and reaching their full potential in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in English and promote the continued use of each student's heritage language.
Foundation of RUSD EL Program
There are many Federal and State laws that establish the rights of English Learners and define the responsibilities of school districts serving them.
California Law
- In 2016, California Proposition 58 was passed. Proposition 58 repealed the English-only immersion requirement and waiver provisions required by Proposition 227 of 1998. The key tenets of Proposition 58 are:
- Preserves requirement that public schools ensure students become proficient in English.
- Requires school districts to solicit parent and community input in developing language acquisition programs to ensure English acquisition as rapidly and effectively as possible.
- Requires that school districts provide students with limited English proficiency the option to be taught English nearly all in English.
- Authorizes school districts to establish dual-language immersion programs for both native and non-native English speakers.
- Allows parents/legal guardians of students to select an available language acquisition program that best suits their child.
Federal Law
Constitution of the United States, Fourteenth Amendment (1868)
Civil Rights Act, Title VI (1964)
Equal Educational Opportunities Act (1974)
Lau v. Nichols (1974)
Castañeda v. Pickard (Texas, 1981)
![]()
English Learner Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC)title
The ELPAC has two parts:
Initial Assessment
Who: Students will take the Initial Assessment if:
- the student has a primary language other than English
- the student has not taken the CELDT or ELPAC before, and
- the student has not been classified before as an English learner.
What: The Initial Assessment is used to identify students as either an English learner who needs to support to learn English, or as proficient in English.
When: Students are given the Initial Assessment within 30 days of when they enroll at the school.
Why: Identifying students who need help learning in English is important so these students can get the extra help they need to do well in school and access the full curriculum. Every year students who are English learners will take the ELPAC summative to measure their progress in learning English.
Summative Assessment
Who: The Summative Assessment is given to students who are identified as an English learner on the Initial Assessment.
What: The Summative Assessment is used to measure the skills of English learners. The results will help tell the school or district if the student is ready to be reclassified as proficient in English.
When: Students who are English learners are given the Summative Assessment every spring between February and May until they are reclassified as English proficient.
Why: Identifying students who need help learning in English is important so these students can get the extra help they need to do well in school and access the full curriculum. Every year students who are English learners will take the ELPAC summative to measure their progress in learning English.
The ELPAC tests four different area:
- Listening
- Speaking
- Reading
- Writing
Do students with disabilities take the ELPAC?
Yes, the ELPAC has been designed so that students, including those with special needs, can participate in the test and demonstrate what they know and can do. As a result, the test includes accessibility resources that address visual, auditory, and physical access barriers—allowing virtually all students to demonstrate what they know and can do. Additionaly, there is a new Alternate ELPAC that can be administered to students with the most significant cognitive disabilities.
How Can I Help My Child Get Ready for the ELPAC?
You are an important part of your child's education. Some things you can do to help your child are:
- Read to your child, or have your child read to you in English, daily.
- Use pictures and ask your child to tell you in English what they seein the picture or what is happening in the picture.
- Talk to your child’s teacher about which areas of learning English (listening, speaking, reading, writing) he or she may need extra help.
- Discuss the test with your child. Make sure he or she feels comfortable and understands the importance of taking the test.
The ELPAC is aligned with the California English Language Development Standards (PDF).
![]()
EL Program Highlights & Eventstitle
Reclassification Dinner and Ceremony at Pleasant Grove Middle School!
![]()
RUSD EL Master Plantitle
Master Plan
The English Learner (EL) master Plan for the Rescue Union School District guides the implementation of highly-effective programs for English learners and ensures that these programs achieve the district's goals for ELs. The master plan also serves to ensure that EL programs are consistent with state and federal law.
![]()
Resourcestitle
![]()
English Learner Advisory Committeestitle
The District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC) advises the governing board on the master plan for English learner education, district-wide needs assessment, and setting district goals for English learner education. The DELAC assists the district with language census report, written parent notification of initial assessment, district's reclassification process, review of and comments on any related requests. The majority of the DELAC members are parents of EL students. The DELAC members are trained by the English Learner staff.
School sites with 21 or more English Learners must have a functioning English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC). The committee advises the principal on the development of the school plan for English Learners and performs other duties and responsibilities as required by law. Currently, Green Valley Elementary and Pleasant Grove hold ELAC meetings.
For a list of upcoming meetings, see below. Agendas for the current month are listed below.
- Roles of ELAC/DELAC
- EL Language Census
- Summarize El supports/program in 2021-22
- Parent Needs Assessment
- Proporcionar comentarios al consejo del sitio escolar para que los utilicen en la formación de su spsa.
- Revisión del plan maestro EL
- Resumir el programa / apoyos de EL en 2021-22
- Evaluación de las necesidades
- Roles of ELAC/DELAC
- EL Language Census
- Summarize El supports/program in 2021-22
- Parent Needs Assessment
- 1. Funciones de ELAC / DELAC
- 2. Censo de idiomas EL
- 3. Resumir los apoyos / programas de El en 2021-22
- 4. Evaluación de las necesidades de los padres
Contact Jennifer Lawson at (530) 672-4831 with any questions.
![]()
Questions?title
(Puedes enviarme un mensaje de texto en espanol o ingles!)
Copyright © 2019 Rescue Union School District and its licensors. All rights reserved. Website Developed By CatapultCMS™ & EMS™. | Log In