Find
researching the curriculum, the type of instruction offered,
and goals of the program. Take the time to learn the type
of English Learner instruction program options and services
offered at each of our locations and to use that information
as a driving force in your decision to determine the right
schools for your child. Please review the “Schools at a Glance”
sections of this guide to learn the current locations for each of
the instructional program options OUSD offers.
To maximize English Learner access to a quality education,
OUSD provides the following instructional program options:
Structured English Immersion
The Structured English Immersion (SEI) program is for
students who have beginning basic skills in English. The
emphasis of the program is to teach students speaking,
listening, reading and writing in English while engaging
in grade-level core curriculum. A SEI program includes
specialized English language development instruction
appropriate to each student’s level of English proficiency as
well as content instruction utilizing a rich array of instructional
techniques and strategies. Some instructional techniques
practiced in a SEI program include scaffolding for academic
language and literacy development as well as conceptual
understanding, core and supplemental curriculum, primary
language support, partner and group work and using visual
aids. The Structured English Immersion program is available
in schools throughout Oakland Unified School District. Goals
for English Learners are: 1) rapid progress toward academic
English language and literacy as well as 2) continuous and
educationally significant progress toward mastery of gradelevel content standards.
The English Language Mainstream
Program
The English Language Mainstream Program (ELM) is designed
for students who have developed more advanced skills in
speaking, listening, reading and writing English but who are
not yet eligible to be reclassified. Although this program
is a general education program, many of the instructional
techniques utilized are similar to those of Structured English
Immersion, but with more linguistically challenging activities
and less scaffolding. The ELM program is available in schools
throughout Oakland. Goals for English Learners are: 1) rapid
progress toward achieving reasonable fluency in English
as well as 2) reasonable and continuous progress toward
mastery of grade-level content standards.
Alternative Language Programs
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A Parental Exception Waiver must be filled if you desire to
have your student participate in an alternative language
program in which instruction is English is paired with another
language. The Alternative Language Program provides
language instruction in two languages; English and the
Oakland Unified School District
Enrollment Options Guide 2015-16
primary targeted language. There are three alternative
language models that are available for schools to establish
and implement. They include: the Early Exit Transitional
Bilingual Program; the Developmental Bilingual program; and
the Dual Language Program
• Early Exit Bilingual – This program uses the primary language
to support English Language acquisition and full transition
by third grade. Students develop initial literacy skills in
the primary language, and with each grade level, the use
of English increases as students add English reading and
writing skills. The primary language is utilized to provide
access to foundational knowledge and skills that are
needed for academic success. Goals for English Learners
are: 1) rapid progress toward achieving reasonable fluency
in English, 2) reasonable and continuous progress toward
mastery of grade-level content standards in both English
and Spanish and 3) by the end of grade 3, demonstrated
mastery of grade level reading/language arts standards in
the primary language that are transferable to English.
• The Developmental, or Late Exit, Bilingual – This program
supports the gradual transition into English instruction
by allowing for more time for students to develop both
languages. Students receive academic instruction in both
English and the primary language. Students develop oral
proficiency and reading/writing skill in both languages. Both
languages are also used to provide students with access to
grade-level content. Only speakers of the primary language
are enrolled in the program. Goals for English Learners are:
1) high levels of academic language proficiency, including
literacy, in both English and Spanish, by the end of grade
5, and 2) reasonable and continuous progress toward
mastery of grade-level content standards in both English
and Spani 6