Newcomer Program

The District 100 Newcomer program’s main purpose is to provide a solid foundation in oral and written communication in English for students who are enrolled for the first time in the U.S. educational system within their first year, have limited or interrupted schooling, and have limited English proficiency. 

This program will offer students the opportunity to participate in three rigorous accelerated courses of study that build survival and academic English, strengthen background knowledge across the curriculum, develop awareness of the acculturation process to the new language and culture, and support their social-emotional well-being. 

Students will remain in the program on a semester basis and could move out or remain depending on their needs.

Goals

The program will support the following:

• Short/long-term academic plan for each student

• English language development with native language support

• Application of instructional strategies for the integration of language and content

• Orientation of students to U.S. schools and the community

• Social-emotional support

• Family connections / Community connections

Newcomer Student Definition

A newcomer is a student who is new to the United States (within 1 year) or has no prior schooling in the U.S. Newcomer students (1) are recent arrivals to the United States, (2) are at a beginning level of English fluency, and (3) might have gaps in their formal education.

Option: Newcomer students encompass those who have recently arrived in the United States within a year, are at the initial stages of English proficiency, and may have had little or interrupted schooling before enrolling in our district. 

Courses Offered

Intro to American Life:

School Orientation 22102A000 School Orientation courses provide students with an introduction to their school's culture so that they understand staff expectations and the school’s structure and conventions. These courses may vary widely according to each school's philosophy, aims, and methods. 

English Foundations:

English as a Second Language (ESL) courses are designed to acquire and rapidly master the English language, focusing on reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. ESL courses usually begin with extensive listening and speaking practice, building on auditory and oral skills, and then move on to reading and writing. These courses explain basic structures of the English language, enabling students to progress from an elementary understanding of English words and verb tenses to a more comprehensive grasp of various formal and informal styles and then to advance to “regular” English courses. ESL classes may also include an orientation to the customs and culture of the diverse population in the United States.

*Extended Algebra A  (High School Only):

The first part in a multipart sequence of Algebra I. This course generally covers the same topics as the first semester of Algebra I, including the study of properties of rational numbers (i.e., number theory), ratio, proportion, and estimation, exponents and radicals, the rectangular coordinate system, sets and logic, formulas, and solving first-degree equations and inequalities. Specific content depends upon state standards.