DEFINITIONS

I. DEFINITIONS:

Limited English Proficiency: Any individual:
    A. ages 3 to 21
    B. who is enrolled in elementary or secondary school
    C. i) who was not born in the U.S. or whose native language is a language other than English,
        ii) who is a native American or Alaska Native, or a native resident of the outlying areas; and who comes from an environment where a language other than English has had a significant impact on the individual’s level of English language proficiency; or
        iii) who is migratory, whose native language is a language other than English, and who comes from an environment where a language other than English is dominant; and
    D. whose difficulties in speaking, reading, writing, or understanding the English language may be sufficient to deny the individual -
         i) the ability to meet the State’s proficiency level of achievement on State assessments;
         ii) the ability to successfully achieve in classrooms where the language of instruction is English; or
         iii) the opportunity to participate fully in society.

Immigrant Children or Youth:   Individuals who:
    A. are aged 3 to 21;
    B. were not born in any State; and
    C. have not been attending one or more schools in any one or more states for more than 3 full academic years.

Refugee: any person who is outside any country of such person’s nationality and who is unable or unwilling to return to that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. The United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) conduct interviews overseas of individuals who have fled persecution. They then make determinations of refugee status. Refugees are the main beneficiaries of Office of Refugee Resettlement assistance and services, provided through the International Center.

ESL Program: Program for teaching Limited English Proficient students English while moving them forward in grade-level academic content.

English as a Second Language:   People whose first language is not English.    Many of these people are fully proficient in English.

English Language Learner:   ELL is a common term used to describe students in an ESL program.   This term is synonymous with Limited English Proficient students.