Virginia public schools have a large number of English Language Learners (ELL) and we can improve academic outcomes for these students.
These bills will provide policies and practices designed to promote the employment of a greater number of highly qualified teachers to serve the educational needs of students who are ELL. Programs will be established for English Language Learning teachers, and the Board of Education will be required to provide guidelines to administer the program.
Also, the bills will require determination of the feasibility of translating SOL assessments into languages spoken by the learner students so they can take those tests instead of their assessments in English.
Support to parents of language learners would include informing them about testing alternatives for their child in their own language.