Lowndes County Schools

Working together to empower, challenge, and inspire - One Lowndes!

TITLE III, PART A Program Overview

Title III, Part A: Language Instruction for English Learners and Immigrant Students of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 as Amended under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) P.L. 115-141, enacted March 23, 2018, awards subgrants to eligible Local Education Agencies (LEA) “to help ensure that English learners (ELs), including immigrant children and youth, attain English proficiency and develop high levels of academic achievement in English.  In addition, Title III, Part A is supplemental to the LCS ESOL program.

The LCSS Title III Program has 3 requirements: 

• Supplemental Language Program - ESOL Classes in Lowndes County Schools
• Parent Outreach to Parents of English Learners
• Language Focused Professional Learning for Administrators and Teachers
  
  

The home language survey is given to all parents of students to complete at registration. If a language other than English is identified, students will be screened for English Language Proficiency.

Universal Home Language Survey Information

School-Home Communication

Per federal law, school-home communication must be provided in a language that families understand. In an effort to facilitate this communication, translation and interpretation services are available at no charge to families who require assistance in understanding all district and school related information. Lowndes County Schools provides assistance to families of English Learners in their home language. Lowndes County Schools uses World Wide Interpreter and Transact.com as resources for school-home communication. Families or students who need assistance in a language other than English may call 229-245-2250.

Parent Notification for English Learners

The district assures that parental notification is provided as required for:

• notification of initial or continuing program placement in the ESOL Program
• notification of annual assessment for English language proficiency
• annual assessment score reports to show growth in language proficiency (Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing)
• exit from ESOL Program
• Title I Notification of Student Eligibility for Supplemental Language Support Services

Title I or Title III Supplemental Language Supports
English learners who are Title III Served  may be provided supplemental language support through Imagine Learning or Reading A-Z.

Complaint Procedures

Any individual, organization, or agency may file a complaint with the Lowndes County School System (LCSS) if they believe and allege that LCSS is violating a federal statue or regulation regarding the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The complaint must allege a violation that occurred not more than one (1) year prior to the date the complaint is received unless a longer period is reasonable because the violation is considered to be systemic or ongoing. A written complaint should be addressed to: Lowndes County Board of Education, Attn: Federal Projects Director, 1592 Norman Drive, Valdosta, Georgia 31601.

Lowndes County Schools' ESOL Program

English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) is a state-funded instructional program for eligible English Learners (ELs) in grades K-12 (Georgia School Law Code 1981, § 20-2-156, enacted in 1985). The ESOL program is a standards-based curriculum emphasizing academic and social language development. ESOL coursework is based upon the WIDA Consortium English Language Development (ELD) standards. Classroom teachers integrate these ELD standards with the Georgia Performance Standards to enable ELs to both communicate in English and demonstrate their academic, social, and cultural proficiency. Instructional approaches, both in ESOL and general education classes, ensure that the needs of Georgia’s ELs are accommodated.

 Language Focused Professional Learning for Administrators and Teachers

ESOL teachers and mainstream teachers of ELs, and administrators  participate in professional learning  offerings from GATESOL, KSU ESOL CONFERENCE, Coastal Plains RESA, WIDA, and GADOE.  In order to participate in ongoing, job-embedded professional learning, all mainstream teachers of English Learners, administrators, and academic coaches participate in the Lowndes County Schools Teachers of English Learners Google Classroom which is designed to improve  instruction and assessment of English learners, as well as, teachers’ ability to understand and implement practices, measures, and strategies specific to ELs. The following information is shared with administrators, academic coaches, and mainstream teachers of ELs through this electronic platform:

• best strategies for teaching ELs
• WIDA information
• working with ELs with disabilities
• helpful websites
• ACCESS testing
• Annual ESOL/Title III Review
• parent communication
• redelivery of professional learning from conferences and workshops
• monthly extraordinary teachers of English learners are introduced and share their best strategies for teaching ELs. 
  

ESOL Contacts