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English Learners » Supporting English Language Learners

Supporting English Language Learners

California Law and English Learners in Middle School
Under California Education Code and state and federal law, public schools are required to identify English Learners (ELs) and provide them with appropriate language development support to ensure access to the core curriculum. Schools must offer both Designated ELD (English Language Development)—explicit instruction in English—and Integrated ELD, where language development is embedded across all subjects. The ultimate goal is to help students become Reclassified Fluent English Proficient (RFEP) while making academic progress.

Support for EL Students at Giano Intermediate
At Giano Intermediate School, EL students are supported based on their level of language acquisition, with instruction tailored to meet their individual needs:

  • Early-Level EL Students receive Designated ELD classes focused on foundational English skills—listening, speaking, reading, and writing. These students also benefit from small-group instruction, scaffolded lessons, and targeted vocabulary support.

  • Advanced-Level EL Students receive Integrated ELD support within their core classes. Teachers use strategies such as structured academic discussion, language objectives, and sentence frames to help students access rigorous content while continuing to build academic English.

All EL students are closely monitored for progress, and reclassification to RFEP is a key milestone, achieved when students demonstrate English proficiency through assessments (such as the ELPAC), classroom performance, and teacher evaluation. Giano is committed to helping every English Learner grow in confidence, language, and academic achievement.