Who we are
The mission of the Burlington School District English Learner (EL) program is to provide instruction to ensure that ELs gain the linguistic, social and academic skills they need as members of the Burlington school community.
Our vision is that all students learn in a school community that values its multicultural and multilingual student body. ELs access a rigorous academic curriculum and receive support to learn English and achieve at school. We view our students as emergent bilinguals; that is, we encourage students to maintain and even strengthen their primary language(s) while learning English. Current and former ELs are productive members of the Burlington community.
The school district currently provides EL services to more than 500 students. More than 900 BSD students come from homes where English is not the primary language. This program previously was called ELL--English Language Learner program--but new federal guidelines under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) now refers to students as English Learners, or ELs. Our current program reflects that change at the federal level.
Our vision is that all students learn in a school community that values its multicultural and multilingual student body. ELs access a rigorous academic curriculum and receive support to learn English and achieve at school. We view our students as emergent bilinguals; that is, we encourage students to maintain and even strengthen their primary language(s) while learning English. Current and former ELs are productive members of the Burlington community.
The school district currently provides EL services to more than 500 students. More than 900 BSD students come from homes where English is not the primary language. This program previously was called ELL--English Language Learner program--but new federal guidelines under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) now refers to students as English Learners, or ELs. Our current program reflects that change at the federal level.
Looking for something?
- The English Learners page describes the program and our population.
- Teaching & Learning contains links to our faq, introductions to our Multilingual Liaisons and The Director, as well as information about teaching and cultures of students in our district.`
- Multicultural Libraries links to resources connected to books provided to K-5 classroom teachers to add to their classroom libraries during the 2018-19 school year.