Programs

Design

WorldOverview

Overview

OFFICE OF BILINGUAL, ENGLISH AS-A-SECOND LANGUAGE, & WORLD LANGUAGES

Plainfield Public School’s Office of Bilingual/ESL/WL provides services to all English Language Learners in the district. The office is located at 504 Madison Avenue, second floor, Suite 23, Plainfield, NJ 07060.  The department is led by  Miguelina Gil-Landisi, Director and the staff includes Jay Rossin, Supervisor,  Idelisse Gonzalez, District Bilingual/ESL Resource Teacher, Emma Anderson, District Bilingual/ESL Resource Teacher, Marie Maldonado, District Bilingual/ESL Resource Teacher, and Ivette Perez, Secretary.

English Language Learners (ELLs) are students whose first language is one other than English and whose performance on the English language proficiency test is determined to be limited. The department and its staff are available to ensure that all ELLs in the district receive services based on their individual language needs and the programs that are in place in the district are operating in accordance with New Jersey State and Federal Guidelines for the education of limited English proficient students.

50/50 Model

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS K-5

All Elementary School's Bilingual Classrooms have adopted the 50/50 Bilingual Education model of Instruction. The Bilingual 50/50 Model is a form of bilingual education in which students are taught literacy and content in two languages. 

The 50/50 Program Model is a researched-based initiative which offers elementary school students the opportunity to develop proficiencies in all subject areas as determined by the New Jersey Student Learning Standards, while simultaneously acquiring a second language. The languages of English and Spanish are the vehicles of learning within these K- 5 Academic and language  programs. 

The bilingual teacher delivers instruction in the target language for a period of two weeks. ESL strategies are a common practice in the bilingual classrooms during English weeks. ESL support is provided by a certified ESL teacher for a minimum of one period every day. World language teachers may provide additional Spanish language support during Spanish week.

The Goals of the 50/50 Bilingual Programs are:

  • Bi-literacy - read and write at grade level or above in both languages
  • Content Area Achievement at grade level or above in all subject areas
  • Multicultural Competencies
  • High Levels of Bilingual Proficiency
  • Increase student cooperation, cultural sensitivity, and self-esteem
  • Foster cultural diversity and respect among all students, and promote a sense of community throughout the school

ESL Program

ESL is an integral component of the Bilingual classrooms K-5. The ESL teacher pushes into and supports all the ELLs in these classrooms for a minimum of one period daily. Our ESL program also provides English language literacy support to students in general education classrooms, as well as students who are speakers of languages other than Spanish.

MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Both Maxson Middle School and Hubbard Middle School house a departmentalized, tiered model Program for grades 6-8. ELLs receive native language literacy support, content area instruction in their native language for Math, Science, and Social Studies and in English from  certified content area bilingual teachersas well as ESL instruction from ESL certified teachers.  

PLAINFIELD HIGH SCHOOL 
Plainfield High School provides a departmentalized developmental, tiered model program for Spanish speaking ELLs allowing them to receive content area instruction in their native language for Math, Science, and Social Studies and in English including a  period  of ESL per day. As proficiency in English is acquired, students begin to take content area classes in English while continuing to receive ESL support. Students are also eligible for Spanish for Native Speakers classes and other World Languages courses.

World Languages

Plainfield Public Schools offers students in all grades the opportunity to learn a foreign language. Elementary and Middle Schools offer Spanish courses. Plainfield High School and PAAAS offers both Spanish and French courses as an option to meet the state requirement for graduation.

The Office of Bilingual, ESL, & World Languages’ goals and aims are to ensure that all schools in the district are able to:

  • Provide instruction for their English language learners in the most appropriate program format, in accordance with New Jersey English Language Proficiency Standards
  • Provide instruction that reflects the New Jersey English Language Proficiency Standards(WIDA)
  • Promote acceptance of Bilingual/ESL instruction as an integral part of the whole school reform program
  • Promote understanding and respect for diversity by students, parents, staff and community
  • Enhance the students' self-esteem and promotes a positive school climate
  • Evaluate results and makes adjustments as warranted to address student learning at both school based and district levels
  • Support staff development on cultural and linguistic diversity, performance based assessment and second language acquisition strategies/methodologies
  • Address issues relating to staffing shortages and instructional/organizational arrangements
  • Communicate successes of Bilingual/ESL programs to the students, parents, and community
  • Actively promote parental involvement as an integral part of students' education