By CHRISTIAN MAITRE
Waltham Times Contributing Writer
Officials for the school district’s multilingual department highlighted its approach to educating the 55% of students in the city’s public schools who speak a first language other than English.
The department’s goal is to create a unique multilingual-based education system to not only teach these students English but also to ensure their proficiency in academic subjects, according to Marianne Duffy, director of the English language learning (ELL) and multilingual programs at Waltham Public Schools.
The district currently serves 1,518 students who are English language learners, said Duffy, who gave an update on the programs to the School Committee at its Nov. 20 meeting. The first languages spoken among these students total nearly 50, she added.
According to the Waltham Public Schools website, there are more than 5,800 students total in the district.
Duffy told committee members that a key component of the school’s services for ELL students is an annual assessment using a series of standardized tests called ACCESS; the school district tests all English language learners every January. This series of tests assesses each student’s proficiency in learning English, and the results inform instructors how each grade level is performing, Duffy explained.
Sara Hamerla, administrator of the ELL and multilingual programs, said there are significant differences in how well each grade level attains language, with 47% of ELL students in grade school meeting their language targets, but only 30% of middle school students and just 10% of high school students doing so.
Hamerla said the multilingual department’s staff were not surprised by those numbers, explaining that younger learners have an easier time attaining a new language.
Hamerla said much of the money that pays for the multilingual department’s services comes from federal grants, which can be used to hire staff, develop curriculum and purchase learning materials.
She added that the department continuously seeks additional funding from other state, federal and private grants.
The department received a $10,000 grant from the Massachusetts English Learner Community Foundation for Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) teachers, Hamerla said. The school district also received a Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 189 grant, which allows Waltham High seniors to earn and include a State Seal of Biliteracy on their transcripts.
Valor High School highlighted
Additionally, Hamerla highlighted the district’s new Valor High School, a competency-based education (CBE) school where a majority of students are ELLs.
She explained that CBE schools have a more flexible learning platform, which allows for personalized pacing and individualized support for students.
The city’s Valor High School, which opened this year, has a full-time English as a second language (ESL) teacher. Valor school officials meet with staff from the multilingual department weekly to assess student progress.
Challenges exist
As part of her presentation to the School Committee, Hamerla also highlighted some challenges faced by the school district.
For one, she said the department has only two part-time testers to administer an English proficiency exam to new students entering the district.
And she said students have called for more representation and diversity among school staff members.
“Our students are really expressive to us that they want to see representation among business faculty at all levels,” Hamerla said, adding that her department is working to hire more teachers to fulfill that request.
School Committee queries
Comments and questions from the School Committee were limited.
Member James Zanghi praised the department’s fundraising efforts and asked for additional details on the department’s collaboration with the state.
Hamerla responded, saying Waltham has connections with the ELL directors at Newton and Watertown public schools and connects with other schools at professional conferences.
Member Elizabeth AlJammal asked if teachers with integrated classes of ELL and non-ELL students were SEI certified. Hamerla confirmed this, saying she hopes for more integration between students in advanced classes in the future.
Thanks for reading! If you value our reporting, please support The Waltham Times through a tax-deductible gift.