Contact Information
For more information, please contact:
Suzanne Richards, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Learning
(616) 738-5730
ESL Services
West Ottawa Public Schools believes strongly that students of limited English proficiency can achieve levels of academic performance comparable to those of the general English-speaking population. We are committed to providing appropriate instructional services to ensure that our students are not deprived of the opportunity to learn content matter while they also gain proficiency in English.
Two separately funded, yet programmatically blended programs are offered in the district.
English as a Second Language (ESL) Program
Using mostly district funds and minimal state dollars, the district provides instructional and support services to students in grades K-12 who have limited English proficiency. Students qualify for the program in several ways:
- Home language survey
- Test of English reading comprehension, writing, speaking, and listening
Our ESL teachers are Spanish speakers with university endorsements in teaching limited English proficiency children. There are ESL classes at the secondary level. In addition, West Ottawa employs educational assistants who are native speakers of Spanish, Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Lao.
The district made a major commitment in 2001-02 to improve curriculum by purchasing specialized K-12th grade materials from Hampton-Brown publishers. The early elementary program, Phonics and Friends, and the Into English materials for older students blend the teaching of English with mastery of core content as recommended for all students in Michigan.
There are English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at the secondary level. ESL staff were added at the elementary level in 2001-02 along with the commitment to improve curriculum.
During 2004-05 regular school year, 936 students in grades K-12 were enrolled in the Bilingual Program (914 in 2003-04, 999 in 2002-03, 640 in 2001-02, 490 in 2000-01).
Migrant Education Program
Migrant Education Programs are federally-funded through Title I legislation. Children (ages 0-21) of migratory workers involved primarily with the nursery tree industry or blueberry harvesting are provided with instructional support services during the spring, summer, and fall sessions.
Teachers and educational assistants work collaboratively with the children's general education teachers during the regular school year. During the summer months, certified and non-certified staff provide intensive instruction for six weeks (150 hours minimum) to pre-kindergarten through 7th grade children.
Program staff work diligently to ensure that student records are transferred on a timely basis between their schools in Texas, Florida, Mexico, and West Ottawa. As much as possible, children are assisted in overcoming educational disruptions and fragmentation of instruction, social isolation, health-related problems, and other factors which inhibit their success in school.
The same Hampton-Brown educational materials are used in the migrant education program as are used in the ESL program.
In 2005, 310 children in pre-kindergarten through 8th grade (249 in 2004, 279 in 2003 in pre-K through 8th grade, 185 in 2002 in pre-K through 6th grade) were enrolled in West Ottawa's summer ESL program. During the 2002-03 regular school year, 210 children were enrolled in grades K-12 (272 in 2001-02, 327 in 2000-01).
