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Virginia

As of the 2007-2008 school year, Virginia's schools were home to more than 89,000 English language learners (ELLs), which marks a 261% increase from the 1997-1998 school year (NCELA, 2010). The top five languages or language groups spoken by ELLs in Virginia are Spanish, Korean, French, Vietnamese, and Chinese (EPE, 2009).

Virginia is a member of WIDA (World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment), joining in 2008. WIDA is a consortium of states dedicated to the design and implementation of high standards and equitable educational opportunities for English language learners which offers states programming for identifying and annually assessing the English language development of its English learners.

State ELL Resources

State Agency: Virginia Department of Education

ELL Website: English as a Second Language (ESL)

ELL Manual: ESL Handbook for Teachers and Administrators* (PDF)

In addition, see:

• Handbook for Educators of Students Who Are English Language Learners with Suspected Disabilities* (PDF)
• Title III: Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient and Immigrant Students

ELL Identification

Home Language Survey: Information about the Home Language Survey is included in Appendix D-1 (English version) and Appendix D-2 of the ESL Handbook for Teachers and Administrators.*

Placement Exam: WIDA-ACCESS Placement Test

ELP Standards & Assessment

ELP Standards: WIDA English Language Proficiency Standards

ELP Assessment: WIDA-ACCESS for ELLs

Statewide Standards-Based Assessment

Assessment: Virginia State Department of Education Standards of Learning [SOL]

ELL Accommodations: Limited English Proficient Students: Guidelines for Participation in the Virginia State Assessment Program* (PDF)

Additional Information

NCELA: Title III Information

WIDA: Statewide Contact Information

Common Core State Standards: Virginia has not officially adopted the Common Core State Standards. However, according to the state website, the "VDOE and the Board of Education are using the commonwealth's established process for adopting and revising academic standards to incorporate content from the Common Core State Standards into the Standards of Learning (SOL). In doing so, the board and department are ensuring that expectations for teaching and learning in Virginia schools are comparable to those of the voluntary national standards."

Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (VA)

The Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center builds positive futures for Virginia's children by working collaboratively with families, schools and communities in order to improve opportunities for excellence in education and success in school and community life. PEATC has a special focus on children with disabilities.

Virginia Education Association

Virginia Education Association is a National Education Association State Affiliate that regularly lobbies legislators for the resources schools need, campaigns for higher professional standards for the teaching profession, and files legal actions to protect academic freedom and the rights of school employees.

Virginia State Parent Information Resource Centers

The goal of the Virginia State PIRC - PEATC (Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center) is to build better futures for children by helping families, schools and professionals work collaboratively in order to meet the educational needs of students and improve their opportunities for success in schools and community life.

Virginia TESOL

VATESOL is a professional organization dedicated to promoting professional development, strengthening instruction, and supporting research opportunities at all levels for teachers and administrators of ESL/EFL/ESOL in Virginia.

References

Editorial Projects in Education (EPE). "Most Common Non-English Languages Spoken by ELL Youths, by State." Perspectives on a Population: English-Language Learners in American Schools (Education Week's Quality Counts 2009 Report). Pg. 13. Retrieved from http://www.edweek.org/ew/toc/2009/01/08/index.html. January 2009.

Office of English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement for Limited English Proficient Students. Virginia Rate of EL Growth (1997/98-2007/08). Compiled July 2010 and retrieved from http://www.ncela.gwu.edu/t3sis/state/virginia/data.