Ketsia Rodriguez

RCSD still adapting to the influx of close to 600 Spanish speaking students from Puerto Rico.

Parents to see 20 percent increase in biligual staff in the RCSD for the 2018-2019 year.

RCSD will also add 15 new ESOL to its staff to aid with refugee students.

One year after Hurricane Maria, the Rochester City School District is still adapting to the influx of close to 600 Spanish speaking students from Puerto Rico. The number of ELL kids in the district makes up 18 percent of the RCSD student body, the majority being Puerto Rican. The district is making some major changes including converting Edison Tech into a bilingual High School and hiring more bilingual staff to help with the volume of Spanish speakers.

Parents can expect to see a 20 percent increase in bilingual staff in the Rochester City School District for the 2018-2019 year.

While there are a variety of ways to educate ELLs, there are three frequently used models.

1) Transitional Bilingual Education

This model consists of students being taught in their primary language, as well as, English in classes separate from mainstream classrooms. This method helps to develop content knowledge and language skills. Once students reach proficiency in English they are transferred to English-only classrooms.

TBE Advantages

Promotes academic development

Provides intellectual growth

TBE Disadvantages

Does not promote full bilingualism

Student may struggle with social identity

2) Newcomer Programs or Programs for ELLs with limited schooling

The lessons provided in these classes address beginning English language learning. Students are taught in English with little use of their primary language. Students are in classrooms separate from mainstream curriculum and will never fully transition to mainstream classes.

Newcomer Advantages

Students acquire basic English language skills

Helps students adjust to new environment

Newcomer Disadvantages

Not all districts offer this program- requires high volume of ELLs

Requires staff be familiar with students’ first language and culture

3) Dual-Language Model

There are two types of the dual language model, one-way and two-way.

A. One- way Dual Language

In one- way programs, immigrant students are integrated into mainstream classrooms learning alongside native English speakers.

B. Two-way Dual Language

In two-way programs, both native English and non-English speakers spend their time equally divided between two languages and classrooms.

Dual Language Advantages

Integrates immigrant students

Promotes bilingualism and biliteracy

Dual Language Disadvantages

Needs additional funding

Difficult to implement, convert existing schools

The district currently has 3 bilingual schools: John James Audubon School No. 33, James PB Duffy School No. 12, and Enrico Fermi School No. 17. Each school provides its students with Spanish support. School No.33 instructs using a one-way dual language model; while schools No.12 and No. 17 use the two-way dual langauge model.

Additionally, the RCSD will be adding 15 new ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) to its staff to aid with refugee students.

@ketsiamari

More:New to Time To Educate? Here's where to start

More:THIS WEEK in Time to Educate: Two new faces

More:Time to Educate: Something. Must. Change.