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ESL Caseload Recommendations?
by ELL Teacher 1 on Jun 04 2010 9:41 AM
Does anyone know if there are ESL teacher "caseload" recommendations or guidelines out there as there are for Special Education? Our ESL population is growing in my school district and there are only 2 ESL teachers for about 100 kids... at what point does the district need to add another ESL teacher?? Ughhh. (by the way, I'm in WI)
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Re: ESL Caseload Recommendations?
I hear it's 75 students. There are 127 ELLs in my school for 2 teachers, most of them beginners that need 8 periods of ESL/week as mandated by NYS.
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Re: ESL Caseload Recommendations?
Check the bilingual code in your state. I think you will find that there is no number attached to the ideal number of students recommended per teacher. (We don't use the term "caseload" in ESL) How many minutes per day of ESL instruction are you providing? Obviously students who are receiving 60 minutes of instruction each day are going to progress more than those receiving 30 minutes. How many students are there in each class? ESL is ideally provided through small group instruction or by the ESL teacher collaborating with the classroom teacher. How many days a week do you see your students? ESL is supposed to be a 5 day a week program. It also depends on how many schools a teacher is expected to go to each day.
I very strongly feel that you can not provide enough ESL services to 75 students each day. I always felt that 35-45 was a number that I could teach effectively and could also provide support to teachers and parents at the same time. An ESL teacher's job goes way beyond the time spent with the Students in the classroom.
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Re: Re: ESL Caseload Recommendations?
I agree with Judie. When the caseload is under 35 it is best. The caveat is good Tier one instruction (classroom). The weaker the grade level instruction or classroom environment the more additional instruction and intervention is needed.
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